A Department of Public Safety officer stands near a barricade tape at the Garapan Fishing Base as Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives investigate a possible crime scene at 5:20 p.m. on Thursday.
A BODY with severe facial injuries and in an early stage of decomposition was found among the rocks comprising the revetment or retaining wall of the Garapan Fishing Base shoreline on Thursday afternoon.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, who was at the scene shortly after the discovery of the body, said at around 5:07 p.m., a caller passing by the fishing base reported that there was a person lying on the rocks in the area.
Macaranas said responding police officers found the body of a still unidentified male person with injuries in the face. He said they could not determine the ethnicity of the body because the face was unrecognizable due to the condition of the injuries.
“Due to the [facial injuries] we can’t have the identity yet,” Macaranas said, adding that there are also signs of rigor mortis and an early stage of decomposition.
Variety learned that one of the witnesses described the body as belonging to a Chinese male.
As of 6 p.m. Thursday, detectives from DPS’ Criminal Investigation Bureau were conducting an initial investigation.
Right now, the DPS commissioner said, “it is being ruled as a dead person that may eventually lead to anything.”
If the injuries indicate signs of foul play, Macaranas added, a homicide investigation will be initiated.
The body was transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. morgue.
