Fairfield, AL — A quiet neighborhood was left shaken after a woman walking her dog discovered skeletal remains in an overgrown area near a vacant property this week, prompting an investigation by local authorities.
The adult remains were found in the 300 block of 53rd Street in Fairfield on Tuesday, Sept. 15, according to reports. The woman who made the discovery told WVTM that she had been walking her dog when the animal moved toward the bushes.
What she saw next prompted her to run home and call police.
“Usually I walk her across the street and when she came back, she went towards the bushes,” the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
“That’s when I saw the body laying there. When I got a little closer the only thing I could see was the skull which had been deteriorating and I ran in the house and called the cops,” she continued.
Fairfield officials were alerted to the scene at 11:23 a.m., according to a statement from the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office.
Authorities begin investigation into unidentified remains
The discovery immediately led to an investigation involving Fairfield police and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities have not yet identified the person whose remains were found. Officials also said they do not currently know the victim’s age, race or identity, leaving important questions unanswered as investigators work to establish who the person was and how they came to be there.
The Fairfield Police Department is leading the investigation, according to the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office removed the adult remains from the location, AL.com reported. An autopsy was performed Wednesday, Sept. 16, as authorities continued examining the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
At this stage, officials have not publicly released details about a possible cause or manner of death.
Residents say foul smell had lingered
The discovery also prompted residents to recall something unusual they had noticed in the neighborhood in recent weeks. Some people living nearby reportedly complained about a foul smell that had been present for about a month.
For the woman who discovered the remains, however, the experience was especially frightening because she said she had considered the area a peaceful place to live.
“I’m still shaking because on this street, we’ve never had problems. It’s quiet, the neighbors get along, we’ve never had trouble and I’ve been living here over here over 20 years,” she told WTVM.
“It makes me want to just move right now. It’s very scary because I have a daughter. I’m scared.”
Her comments reflect the fear now felt by some residents following the discovery.
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Overgrown vacant properties raise concerns
The woman also told the news station that residents had previously raised concerns with city leaders about overgrown grass around the vacant lot.
According to her, people in the neighborhood had asked for the area to be cleared, but she said nothing had been done.
The condition of the property has now become part of the broader concerns being voiced by residents, who say neglected vacant properties and heavy vegetation can make it harder to see what is happening nearby.
“They need to cut down these abandoned houses and these bushes so we can be safe,” the woman said.
The investigation into the remains remains ongoing. Authorities will need to determine the victim’s identity and gather additional evidence that could help explain what happened before the remains were discovered.
For residents on 53rd Street, a place they described as quiet for years has suddenly become the focus of a disturbing investigation.
What do you think should be done to address overgrown vacant properties in neighborhoods? Share your thoughts in the comments.
