Suitcase with body inside found by volunteer cleanup crew at California lake, cops say

Volunteers cleaning at Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland fished a suitcase containing a body from the water, California police told news outlets.

Workers reported the gruesome discovery at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, police told KRON.

Volunteer Kevin Shomo told KTVU the cleanup crew pulled the heavy suitcase to shore with net poles they use for weekly cleanups, then unzipped it.

“I thought it was a dummy,” Shomo told KGO. “Like one of those human dummies. It looked like human flesh. And then we opened it up further and realized.”

Oakland homicide detectives are investigating, police told KPIX. The victim’s identity has not been released.

“Part of the investigation is to determine where the body could have floated from as well. So it could be any part of the lake,” Capt. Alan Yu told KGO.

The discovery shocked parkgoers and neighbors.

“It’s really scary for me, for a body to be around (the) neighborhood here, it’s really scary,” Angela Massella told KTVU.

Police ask anyone with information to call 510-238-3821 or leave an anonymous tip at 510-238-7950.

Lake Merritt is a 155-acre tidal lagoon in the middle of Oakland.

This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Suitcase with body inside found by volunteer cleanup crew at California lake, cops say."