(OAK PARK) A man whose dismembered body was found in garbage bags in a west suburban alley Wednesday morning was shot in the head, a Thursday autopsy determined.
Rafael Ramirez, 18, of the 2700 block of North Nordica Avenue in Chicago, has been identified as the victim by various body markings, Oak Park police told the Pioneer Press.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, which identified the victim only a Hispanic male in his 30s, said an autopsy showed he died of a gunshot wound to the head and ruled his death a homicide.
"We believe the victim was killed in another location and the body was randomly left in Oak Park,” Police Chief Ricky Tanksley said. “Information thus far leads us to believe this is a gang- or drug-related homicide. Our investigation into what occurred is continuing.”
Four garbage bags containing severed human body parts were found in the alley behind the 1000 block of Clarence Avenue, Oak Park police Sgt. Thomas Dransoff said Wednesday.
A law enforcement source indicated the tattoos on the arm of the body are similar to the tattoos of a man reported missing in Chicago by his girlfriend on March 9. Police have not yet confirmed whether Ramirez was the missing man.
Warren Udelson found the bags on the apron of his garage and called police about 11 a.m. Wednesday. At first he was not aware of their contents, but nudged them with his foot and “noticed there was some weight to them.”
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Udelson said he used a penknife to cut through a corner and “came to what looked like a foot inside a sock, so I came inside and called police.”
