Man floating on river discovers human body part, sheriff’s office says

HILLSBORO, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - Authorities in Oregon are investigating after a body part was recovered from a river on Friday.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered the body part after a man who was floating on the Tualatin River in Hillsboro called to report what he believed was a severed human leg in the water near the Rood Bridge Park boat launch.

The sheriff’s office said the call was made just after 5 p.m.

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue crews were the first to respond on a water rescue before the scene was turned over to law enforcement.

The person who discovered, who wished to remain unidentified, showed local media video he took of the scene.

“I was thinking what if it could be a prop or something, I didn’t know, so I went back to maybe show 911 when they arrived,” the caller said. “You can see more detail, it was definitely a body part.”

The 911 caller said officers sent out a drone and launched a boat into the river after they made an initial check of the scene.

“It’s just disturbing to think it’s that close and by a park where a lot of people are hanging out, and it’s right there, just kind of disturbing to see,” he said.

Late Friday night, the sheriff’s office confirmed to KPTV that they did recover a body part and are leading the investigation. They did not specify what body part was recovered.