MCEWEN, Tenn. (WTVF) — A human heart was found in a Tennessee Department of Transportation salt pile in Humphreys County.
The organ was discovered by a worker at the TDOT facility at McEwen in Humphreys County on Thursday and was sent off for testing.
It is confirmed to be an adult human heart.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis says a human heart was found in salt barn.
"I've got 32 years and in law enforcement and I do have to say this is probably one of the top five of the most bizarre things that I've ever seen."
Davis says the heart was sitting in the barn for some time.
"I can tell you that it it did appear to have been here for some time. So salt has a drying effect like it would on a country ham you know it's very similar to the body and I hate to use that as a reference but imagine that this is what it is."
In what should have been a normal day at work for Tennessee Department of Transportation employees in McEwen ended with their job turning into a crime scene.
"We secured the area and made sure everything was secure and started covering everything that we needed to do, which that's —that's the way we have to treat the majority of our scenes. Anytime we go on the scene where there's a body or remains, we treat it as a homicide and basically prove ourselves different," David said.
The medical examiner confirming the heart belongs to an adult male.
The news surprising small McEwen community.
"It's a small town so a lot of stuff doesn't happen here like that. So when something does you know kind of makes you wonder." said Kelly Swearns.
Swearns like many are wondering where is the body?
"Right? Where'd it come from? Was it brought in from somewhere else or anything? Any other parts they're going to find or whatnot?"
Investigators are sifting through the salt and searching for other human remains and evidence.
"Somebody somewhere knows and you know we're seeking information and always reach out to the public if you happen to have any idea or just an inclination," Davis said.
The salt barn is now being treated as a crime scene while authorities looked for other body parts. As of 12:45 p.m., no other human remains have been found at the scene, but the search is ongoing. This is a bizarre mystery with no clear explanation.
DNA testing will be done on the heart.
This is a breaking news situation, we will update you as more information comes in.
