The tattooed corpse of a woman was found bizarrely stuffed in a refrigerator dumped in some New Jersey woods — and cops say they need the public’s help identifying her.
Adding to the mystery was last week’s arrest of a registered sex offender who claimed he stumbled on the body three days before Christmas — then allegedly refused to hand over his cell phone to cops or be fingerprinted.
The corpse — discovered in Belleplain State Forest in Dennis Township — is likely that of a Caucasian or Hispanic woman who stood about 5 feet, 1 inch tall and had two striking tattoos: a koi fish on her right shoulder blade and a rose on her ribs, according to NJ.com.
A distinctive yoga mat and necklace lay nearby at the site, which is part of a 21,000-acre stretch of woods across northern Cape May County, the New Jersey State Police said.
Authorities released photos of the mat, the jewelry and images of the dead woman’s tattoos. But they have not said how the woman died.
Meanwhile, they have arrested John Tyrrell, a 46-year-old North Cape May man and registered sex offender who reportedly found the woman’s body, for allegedly interfering in their investigation.
Tyrrell told cops he went hiking Dec. 21, stopped at the fridge and took something out of it, the state police said.
He said he then came upon the victim’s body the next day, according to the New York Daily News. He sent the state police a signal, then waited for them to arrive before walking them to the victim.
Authorities have charged him with fourth-degree obstruction and failure to be fingerprinted for refusing to give investigators his cell phone or be printed as they probed the woman’s death, according to criminal complaints filed by the state police and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
They have not charged the registered sex offender with her death, according to the Daily News.
His lawyer said Tyrrell is an “eyewitness to this case and nothing more.”
There’s no evidence tying him to her death, the outlet added.
On Monday, Assistant Prosecutor Ed Shim said cops finally got a warrant for the man’s cell phone because he was in the same area as the corpse, the Press of Atlantic City reported.
Prosecutors had asked Friday that the man be detained. But two days later, a judge released him with orders to check in with court staff, NJ.com said.
The man was released from Pennsylvania state prison in 2012 after serving nine years for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in Bucks County, Pa.
The state police said Tuesday there are no updates on the investigation.
Anyone with information can contact the State Police Woodbine Station at 609-861-5698 or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135 ext. 3480. Anonymous tips are welcome.
