Dismembered body found inside suitcase in Dumpster

Friday, April 26, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

A dismembered body was found Thursday wrapped in a plastic bag, stuffed into a suitcase and tossed into a trash bin at an apartment complex.

Police investigators have released pictures of two tattoos found on the body and are asking anyone with information to call them.

The body appears to be that of an adult white man. Several of the body's parts were not contained in the large suitcase and not located in the area of the trash bin, Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro Police's homicide unit said. The apartment complex is in the 8100 block of West Flamingo Road near Durango Drive.

A maintenance worker smelled a foul odor coming from the Dumpster about 10 a.m. Thursday. He determined the odor was coming from the suitcase, and he then called police.

Police opened the suitcase, cut a small opening in the bag and saw that there was likely a corpse inside. The suitcase was taken to the Clark County coroner's office where it was opened and the dismembered body was removed, police said.

Police are interviewing residents to determine if anyone heard or saw anything related to the suitcase.

An autopsy will determine cause of death. Police are trying to identify the man.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.