Hazmat crews in Delray Beach discover body in container

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - Investigators are offering no new details into the discovery of a body found Tuesday night in Delray Beach

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office was scheduled to do an autopsy on the remains Wednesday.

Police say they have not yet confirmed the victim's identity.

The Delray Beach Fire-Rescue hazardous materials team was called to investigate reports of a suspicious leaking container behind the Mellow Mushroom restaurant, between Southeast First Avenue and Atlantic Avenue off northbound Federal Highway.

Responding firefighters arrived at the downtown parking lot and saw a red liquid oozing from the car, according to Delray Beach Fire-Rescue.

It was approximately a 35-gallon cardboard container, said Fire-Rescue Lt. Ed Beardsley.

Firefighters first ran tests on the red fluid before examining the contents of the 4-by-2-foot container, which weighed a little more than 100 pounds, Beardsley said.

Firefighters sampled the product to make sure it wasn't anything hazardous, biological or chemical, Beardsley said.

"It did come up as biological but not as a threat; [it was] more like something coming from something deceased," Beardsley said.

After the tests, firefighters and police looked inside the container and discovered the body.

Police have decided not to release the sex or race of the victim.

Staff writer Sofia Santana contributed to this report.

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