Authorities are investigating a body that reportedly had no arms, legs, or head when it was found off the coast near Westport State Pier on Aug. 19.
The body was found by a local crew on a fishing boat, and the medical examiner’s office is performing an autopsy and other forensic testing, according to Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn’s office.
Westport Assistant Harbormaster Jonathan Paull told WJAR NBC 10 Thursday that the body was “just a torso,” and was found wrapped in plastic. He also said the body appeared to be a Caucasian male.
“In the 27 years I’ve been doing this, this is the first time anything like this has happened,” he told the television station.
Paull said the two crewmen were about a mile off the shore when they found the plastic-wrapped body and called for help.
“They didn’t know what it was and opened up the plastic and realized they had a body,” Paull said.
Paull said Friday that could not speak about the incident.
Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Quinn, said the district attorney’s office does not yet have a confirmed identity for the body, and would not comment further on the investigation.
Felicia Gans can be reached at felicia.gans@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaGans.