Badly decomposed, unidentified body found by kayaker in the Rouge River in Wayne

WAYNE (WWJ) -- An investigation is underway after badly decomposed human remains were pulled from in the Rouge River in Wayne.

According to City of Wayne Police, the grim discovery was made at around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, by a kayaker who was paddling in the Lower Rouge, near Pershing Street.

Officers responded to find what investigators confirmed to be decomposed human torso, tangled in brush along the embankment.

The Michigan State Police Marine Service Team pulled the remains from the river, police said. Then, after further investigation Thursday morning, the lower half of the body was a short ways downriver.

Police said the body has since been transferred to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.

WWJ Newsradio 950's Tim Pamplin said, as of late Thursday afternoon, the body had not yet been identified. However, judging by the size, officials told Pamplin it is believed to be an adult.

"Very grisly," Pamplin reported. "They're going to have to do some DNA testing, I'm being told, to try and determine who this person is, and then work back from there and figure out how they ended up dying."

Police noted that this remains an active investigation, in the early stages.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call D/Lt. Springer at tspringer@cityofwayne.com or 734-721-1414, Ext: 1503. Tipsters are asked to specify that the email or call is related to the human remains case.