Baltimore County police have identified a man who was found dead four days ago at a recycling center in Cockeysville.
John Ernest Stevens, 42, of the 14000 block of 4th Street in Laurel, had been missing since Dec. 3, according to Laurel police. His amputated torso was discovered wrapped inside a tarp by workers from the Central Acceptance Facility at 10275 Beaver Dam Road in Cockeysville around noon on Dec. 10 as they were sorting through recyclable material, police said.
Detectives were able to use tattoos to help identify the body, police said. The cause of death has been ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit is advancing the investigation of how the body got to the recycle center, which also receives a majority of its recyclable material from both Harford and Cecil counties.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020.
–Corday Gaskins