Man claimed he was digging for treasure, high on meth, in East Oakland when he found severed human legs

OAKLAND — The legs and feet were found in a case among Valentine’s Day hearts that had been scattered near a creek at Cesar Chavez Park on 37th Avenue, on Feb. 16, according to police.

They’d been severed from the body by some sort of cutting instrument. It was the second such discovery Oakland had seen in two weeks, prompting a homicide investigation that still hasn’t produced the name of the victim. It’s a befuddling case, made even more so by the story police got from the man who made the grisly discovery: He said he was digging for golden treasure in East Oakland while high on methamphetamine, but felt drawn to the suitcase, possibly by the human spirit within, authorities said in court filings.

Police were skeptical of the story, and say they’re still looking into it. They’re also grappling with the real possibility that there are more severed remains out there, waiting to be found.

The first discovery of human remains occurred last Feb. 1, near the railroad tracks on the 9700 block of San Leandro Street in East Oakland. The second was near Cesar Chavez Park two weeks later, about 3½ miles from the first. In both cases, the remains were decomposed, and appeared that they may have been moved around multiple locations before being discovered, authorities said.

The Feb. 16 discovery was particularly bizarre. The finder told police he’d stumbled upon the suitcase days earlier, while digging for treasure. Police found evidence of a hole that had been dug near the creek, but questioned how a pair of legs could have gone unreported for days after the initial discovery. The man was detained and questioned but ultimately released, authorities said.

Investigators haven’t released more information, nor said if the gender or approximate age of the victim has been determined. Police believe the two sets of remains came from the same person, though they haven’t determined how the victim was killed, authorities said.

Anyone with information may call homicide investigators at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950. Anyone with video or other images that might assist in the investigation may e-mail them to cidvideo@oaklandca.gov.