The RCMP is working with Edmonton Police officers after what a witness describes as a human head was found in an alley in northeast Edmonton Wednesday morning.
The discovery was made in the area of 132 Avenue and 72 Street around 6:30 a.m.
Jesse Whitnack, who lives in an apartment in the area, said he got up for a smoke at 7:30 a.m. and, from his balcony, noticed police in his back alley, including one patrolling with a dog.
"I asked them what was going on. He said 'Watch the news tonight.' I said 'Don't tell me it's another dead body - because it would be the third one this year in this neighbourhood.' And he said 'Parts of one.'"
Whitnack said he later noticed what he claims was clearly a head with hair lying on the pavement in the alley.
“Seeing the head is really sad,” Whitnack said.
Whitnack added the police appeared to wait until the sun came up before picking up the head and putting it in a paper bag. Police also picked up other items in the alley, bagged them and tagged them with yellow evidence tape.
Another area resident, Roseanne Rochette, told Global News she saw something in the back alley Tuesday night when she pulled in around 11:30.
"I didn't think anything peculiar...it was like a garbage bag size," she said.
Rochette is now disturbed after finding out what police may be investigating.
"To find something like that or to hear about something like that that happened in your backyard, it's terrifying."
RCMP say officers are working with the medical examiner to identify the remains.
EPS says the discovery could be linked to the weekend discovery of a body in Ranfurly. The RCMP has not confirmed the connection at this time. The RCMP only says members are working closely with the EPS.
With files from 630 CHED, Postmedia News, and Laurel Clark, Global News
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