Woman's body found in shallow grave

By Times staff writer
Published March 7, 2007

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TAMPA - A woman's decomposing body was found in a shallow grave Tuesday outside a north Tampa company.

Workers at the Sweeping Company of Florida, 2110 N 71st St., told police they first noticed a mound of dirt outside their building about three or four weeks ago.

Some parts of the body were exposed, but workers told police they mistook it for the carcass of a pig or hog.

By Tuesday, however, the smell had become overwhelming and a supervisor asked a worker to dig it up with a backhoe and take it away, said police spokesperson Laura McElroy.

The worker called police as soon as he realized he was unearthing a human body, McElroy said. She said the body was too badly decayed to identify its age or race.

The fact that the body was buried suggests foul play, McElroy said. A Tampa police homicide squad is investigating.