A man discovered human remains Wednesday morning while walking through a wooded area north of Dowling Road's intersection with Quinhagak Street in Anchorage, police said.
The man dropped off his vehicle at an auto repair shop and was walking home on a trail through woods and grass when he saw the body about 50 feet from Dowling, said police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker. The remains were at the edge of the wooded area, and the man walked back to the road, where he flagged down an off-duty police officer about 11 a.m., Parker said.
"It was very evident by the state of the body that the person was deceased," Parker said.
Parker said detectives were at the scene shortly thereafter.
It is unknown if the dead person was a man or woman, how old the person was, or how long the body had been there, Parker said.
Whether foul play was involved also remains a mystery, he said.
Crime scene investigators were reportedly on their way to the area about noon.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
By CASEY GROVE