Decomposed body found near Gary railroad tracks
by Lori Caldwell lcaldwell@post-trib.com | 648-3258 August 1, 2012 5:22PM
Gary detectives Michael Barnes and Lorenzo Davis examine the scene at 1900 W. 9th Avenue where a decomposed body was discovered Wednesday afternoon. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
Updated: August 2, 2012 4:12PM
GARY — A man searching for scrap metal along unused railroad tracks discovered a very decomposed body Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The body appeared to be a man, but investigators at the scene declined to speculate on the gender or identity of the remains.
The scrapper was walking along abandoned Indiana Harbor Belt railroad tracks in the 1900 block of West 9th Avenue about 1 p.m. when he saw the body and called police.
The area between Grant and Cleveland streets is mostly vacant lots with overgrown weeds and trash. A few empty brick buildings that once housed supply companies and other businesses remain, although most structures are crumbling.
After photographing the scene and collecting evidence from the area where the body was found, deputy Lake County coroners removed the body, which will be examined at the coroner’s office.
Police spokeswoman LarRia Crews declined to speculate on the identity of the body or circumstances of the death.
However, police have been looking for more than one missing person, including a Gary man who disappeared July 2 after he left work with two men.
The car belonging to Chezevon Jones, 30, was found burned near 2nd Avenue and Rutledge Street. He had been last seen at 11th Avenue and Broadway after The Hook Up store closed.
Detective Lorenzo Davis is investigating Jones’ disappearance and the death of the unidentified person found Wednesday.
Anyone with information about either case may call him at 881-4738.
