Update: Police have said they have a tentative identity of the body found in a wooded area off Route 9W on Sunday. The name of the deceased will not be released until the person is positively identified by a family member and positive identification is made through DNA, dental records or fingerprints.
Bethlehem police are hoping an autopsy will provide them with the identity of a body found on the side of the road on Route 9W in Selkirk on Sunday, July 22.
Police said two people who had passed the area on Sunday around 6:30 p.m. discovered the body in a wooded area 30 feet from the road and called police.
The location is now being treated as a crime scene “until foul-play can be ruled out.” Route 9W between Maple and Avenue and Cottage Lane was closed from 10 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday as police conducted an investigation.
Police said the body was badly decomposed and thus they were unable to establish who the person was, but officials did say the body was that of a middle-aged male between the ages of 40 to 60 years old. The man is said to have redish/gray facial hair and was found wearing an extra large 2000 Giants Super Bowl sweatshirt, a green extra large tee shirt, jeans and a black leather Dockers belt. Police said the man was also wearing an analog watch with a black leather band, tan socks and black `Vans` sneakers, size 9.
Police said the person is believed to have been dead about six months.
An autopsy was set to be completed by the Albany County Coroner’s Office, partly in hope of establishing a more precise time of death. Police said a tattoo is on the man’s left bicep. It reads `George loves Linda` inside of a heart.
State Police, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office and the county coroner’s officer are assisting Bethlehem police in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bethlehem Police Detectives at 518-439-9973.
