The discovery of a tattooed woman’s body, found stuffed in a refrigerator in the woods of New Jersey, has left authorities seeking help to identify her.
Adding to the mystery is the recent arrest of a registered sex offender who claimed to have come across the body just days before Christmas but refused to cooperate with the investigation.
The body, which was found in Belleplain State Forest in Dennis Township, is believed to be that of a Caucasian or Hispanic woman with distinctive tattoos of a koi fish on her right shoulder blade and a rose on her ribs, as reported by NJ.com.
Found near the body were a unique yoga mat and a necklace, in a 21,000-acre wooded area in northern Cape May County, according to the New Jersey State Police.
Authorities have released images of the yoga mat, the necklace, and the tattoos, but have not disclosed the cause of death.
Meanwhile, John Tyrrell, a 46-year-old man from North Cape May and a registered sex offender, was arrested for hindering the investigation after claiming to have found the body and not cooperating with law enforcement.
Tyrrell stated that he stumbled upon the body while hiking on December 21 and contacted the state police to report the discovery.
He has been charged with obstructing the investigation and failing to cooperate by refusing to provide his cell phone or fingerprints.
Although Tyrrell has not been charged with the woman’s death, authorities obtained a warrant to search his cell phone due to his presence near the body.
Prosecutors had requested Tyrrell’s detention, but he was released with instructions to check in with court staff, as reported by NJ.com.
Tyrrell was released from a Pennsylvania state prison in 2012 after serving time for a previous offense.
As of Tuesday, there have been no updates on the investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the State Police Woodbine Station or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
