Modesto woman burying pet discovers body in backyard

Detectives are investigating a possible homicide after a Modesto woman burying a pet that had recently died discovered a body in her backyard, authorities said Sunday. Detectives are investigating a possible homicide after a Modesto woman burying a pet that had recently died discovered a body in her backyard, authorities said Sunday. Photo: Bill Hutchinson Photo: Bill Hutchinson Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Modesto woman burying pet discovers body in backyard 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

MODESTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Detectives are investigating a possible homicide after a Modesto woman burying a pet that had recently died discovered a body in her backyard, authorities said Sunday.

Deputies went to a home in the 100 block of Santa Rita Avenue in Modesto around 3 p.m. Saturday after the woman called and said that she may have found human remains in the yard, according to a news release from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities confirmed the remains were human, and detectives were called out to the scene.

Detectives worked through the evening to exhume the decomposing body, the sheriff's department said.

The victim has not yet been identified. An autopsy will be done to determine how the person died.

The woman who called authorities about the remains has not lived at the house for long but previously had ties to the home, according to Detective Cory Brown.

The sheriff's department asked anyone with information to contact Brown at 209-567-4485. Anonymous tips can also be called in at 209-521-4636.

This is a developing story.