Seattle man arrested after severed human limbs, heads found in Ariz. desert
Thursday, December 31st 2020
PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Severed human limbs and heads found scattered in remote areas of Arizona were likely connected to a Seattle-based business that has recently closed, officials said.
The business, Future GenX, managed human cadavers for medical research before its closure. It was owned by Walter H. Mitchell, 59, of Seattle, who now is accused of discarding the human remains.
Mitchell was arrested Tuesday in Phoenix and then booked into the Yavapai County jail in Arizona, where he is being held on $250,000 bail.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has accused Mitchell of dumping nearly 30 body parts believed to have been used for medical research on the outskirts of Prescott, Ariz. So far he has not been formally charged.
According to the sheriff's office, an investigation began after two human limbs were found last weekend off a rural road near the Prescott National Forest. A search of the area resulted in the discovery of 24 limbs, including detached arms and legs.
The next day, a hunter in the area reported finding two severed human heads. Deputies responded and a follow-up search revealed three more human heads.
Evidence collected at the scene ruled out the possibility of a serial killer and suggested that the remains were likely connected to a medical institution and intended for use in the educational and research field, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators said the evidence was used to trace the remains to Mitchell’s Seattle business. Working with local law enforcement in Seattle, the sheriff’s office learned that Mitchell had left the city earlier this year with human remains belonging to five individuals, according to the sheriff's office.
“This situation is unimaginable, and I am so sorry for the families whose loved ones were donated to research and treated in such a horrific fashion,” outgoing Sheriff Scott Mascher said in a prepared statement. “I want to thank the community for their patience as we investigated this case and am very proud of our detectives, staff, and volunteers, for the work they did to identify and arrest the suspect so quickly.
Sheriff-elect David Rhodes also issued a statement: "The disrespect shown to the deceased in this case by those who were charged with caring for their remains is abhorrent and intolerable. Today's arrest is a big step in getting accountability and honor for those whose remains were so cavalierly treated."
A judge has appointed a public defender for Mitchell.
https://nbc16.com/newsletter-daily/seattle-man-arrested-after-severed-human-limbs-found-in-ariz-desert