SHIRLEY, MASS. (WHDH) - Human remains found in a pond in Shirley Wednesday have been identified as belonging to a 69-year-old man who had been living in Rockland, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Thursday.
Using finger print evidence, investigators were able to identify the remains as Peter Degan. Officials said Degan been living in a Pre-Release Center in Rockland after pleading guilty to charges related to trafficking and distribution of cocaine in a Suffolk County case. He was last seen in Rockland on February 27.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a group walking in the area of the Maritime Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road called 911 after spotting what appeared to be a leg in the water. When officers arrived, they confirmed the presence of human remains. Dive teams searched the pond and said they found other body parts.
A preliminary investigation suggests foul play; officials said Degan’s body was found cut up.
“Those body parts, which appeared to all be from the same person, appear to also have clean cuts. That is, they were severed with apparently a very sharp, blunt force instrument,” said Ryan.
People who live in the area say it’s sad to see something like this happen.
“I feel bad for the kids. I don’t know what they were doing, but to come down here and see something like that — it’s horrifying,” said one resident.
Shirley police are asking anyone with information about this case to contact them.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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