State transportation workers stumbled across a large suitcase in a ravine near the Saltair on Thursday and later discovered a body inside of it. Utah Division of Transportation spokesperson Lisa Miller said the workers were installing and replacing a barrier at the time.
“So they were performing normal duties,” Miller said. “One of them noticed something a little out-of-the-ordinary and approached the large suitcase but did not open it. He just had a feeling like it was something he needed to alert law enforcement of.”
Provo Police Department Lt. Brandon Post said Friday the remains are not related to the case of Elizabeth “Elena” Laguna Saldago, a woman who disappeared last month. Lieutenant Jared Garcia from the State Bureau of Investigation said they identified marks on the body that made it clear it was not her, though he declined to specify what they were.
State police are trying to determine the age, gender and degree of decomposition of the body. Miller said it was one state transportation worker in particular who stumbled across the suitcase. While he is not available for comment on the incident, he spoke with Miller about the discovery.
“The worker that discovered the suitcase actually arrived a little earlier and was kind of just walking around and surveying the area that they were going to be working,” she said. “So he was pretty much on his own when he made the discovery.”
Garcia said the Utah Highway Patrol is working with another police department to confirm the identity of the body. The Utah State Bureau of Investigation will continue to head the case.