Human remains found in Merced County corn field

Detectives with the Merced County Sheriff's Office are investigating a suspicious death near Sandy Mush and Combs roads.

The sheriff's office responded to a rural corn field about 7 a.m. near the John Latoracca Correctional Center after human remains were found while a corn field was being harvested.

Identifying details about the body, such as age and gender, remain unknown since the body was badly decomposed, said Deputy Daryl Allen, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.

The coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine the identity and cause of death.

The case remains under investigation.

This story was originally published September 14, 2017 at 8:57 AM with the headline "Human remains found in Merced County corn field."