A suspicious death investigation is underway in Taft after a body was found on Wednesday.

The body was found at around 7:15 a.m. in the area of 25 Hill Road near South Street.

Read the press release from the Taft Police Department:

On August 3, 2016, between 7:15 and 7:30 am, a body of an adult male which was obviously deceased was discovered in the foothills of 25 Hill, just east of 25 Hill Road and south of South Street. The deceased was discovered by an off-road motorist who was riding his ATV. An additional resident of Taft also discovered the victim, walking his dogs through the foothills. Both individuals reported their discovery to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s Deputies of the Taft Substation responded and met with the reporting parties. The reporting parties led the deputies to location of the victim.

The deputies determined the deceased was within the City Limits of Taft and notified Taft Police Department. Officers of the Taft Police Department responded to the scene and took over the investigation. At the time of the discovery, the victim’s body had been decomposing and was not identifiable by the officers on scene. At the time of discovery and the positioning of the victim’s body the officers did not see any indicators of foul play. However, the officers were treating this as a Suspicious Death Investigation and requested the assistance of the Kern County District Attorney’s Crime Lab was requested to process the scene for possible evidence. The Kern County Sheriff / Coroner’s Investigator later responded and conducted a preliminary search of the victim for identification. However, no identification for the victim was located and no indications for the cause of death was discovered during preliminary investigation of the scene and victim.

The cause of death is pending Post Examination.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Taft Police Department at 661 763-3101.