MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A Marion County Sheriff's Office incident report said that what a hunter uncovered underneath brush in the Ocala National Forest "smelled really bad, like, death."
The area looked suspicious, so he borrowed a friend's shovel and started digging.
Deputies said hidden under the brush were human remains.
An autopsy has been conducted, but the results have not yet been released.
The remains were found 200 yards off of Southeast Forest Road 5 near Umatilla around 8 p.m. Sunday, officials said.
A man said he was hunting deer in the area when he came upon what he thought were deer scratchings.
The report said the man said he saw leaves covering the disturbed area and that "it looked suspicious."
The man told deputies he returned to the area with a shovel and started to dig.
He said the area started to smell "like death."
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The report said that's when the hunter called a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer, who contacted the Sheriff's Office.
Deputies ask anyone with information on the death to call detectives at 352-732-9111 or to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County anonymously at 352-368-7867. Tips may also be submitted by clicking here.
The death remains under investigation.
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