BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Note: Some of the details in this story are graphic.
San Antonio-area authorities are still trying to determine the victim who was found dismembered with some body parts stuffed into a suitcase discovered in a southwest-Bexar County property this month.
The discovery was made July 20 by a woman who noticed a dark mass on a hilltop before nearing and finding the zipped-up piece of luggage swarmed by vultures. Authorities responded and launched an investigation.
On Friday, more than a week after the find, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said only a torso was in the dumped suitcase. In an effort to identify the victim, believed to be a man, a local artist created a complete rendering of a partial dragon tattoo found on the torso.
Salazar said Friday it's possible the victim wasn't from the U.S., based on information available via law enforcement databases. It isn't believed the owners of the property are involved.
A gruesome find
KENS 5 spoke with the woman who made the grisly discovery. Investigators confirmed she gave the same information to law enforcement.
Fearing she could be targeted, she asked us not to publicly identify her.
According to the witness, the property owner has been out of town for several days. She said she agreed to take care of her livestock.
At about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, she says her husband was giving the goats water when she noticed a dark mass on a hilltop. When she got closer, she realized it was vultures.
The witness recalls about ten vultures gathered on top of an unzipped, closed suitcase. At first, she thought it might contain a dead dog. She said she grabbed a stick and lifted it open.
It was a horrifying sight.
The woman gave details about the torso stuffed inside the suitcase. She said the person had been decapitated, and their hands and legs had been removed. She thinks it was a man, but couldn’t be certain since she only saw the back.
“There really was no effort to hide [the body] that I could see," Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said on the day of the find.
The witness said there were burn marks around the suitcase. Terrified, she says she called 911 and the property owner.
“It’s too early to tell if the person was killed here, or if they were brought here in that piece of luggage and dumped,” Salazar said.
The witness believes the body was dumped sometime after she fed the animals on July 19, possibly overnight. Several surrounding neighbors told KENS 5 they didn’t notice anything suspicious.
Investigators conducted a search warrant. Our KENS 5 team saw cadaver dogs on the property. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office couldn't say if deputies will return to the site in the coming days.
>>MORE LOCAL NEWS:
---
Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members.