Fishermen Pull Body 'in a State of Decomposition' Out of the Water Off Massachusetts Coast

Mar. 15, 2025

Aerial view of Boston.Photo:Getty

Getty

A group of fishermen working near the coast of Massachusetts caught a dead body as they were pulling fish from the ocean.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that a fishing vessel was working about 40 miles off the coast of Boston on Friday, March 7, when its crew found the body of an unidentified person.

A source who spoke toTMZ, who was the first to report the news, said the individuals aboard the vessel pulled their fishing net up early in the morning and were surprised to find that it was particularly heavy.

Once they had opened the net and began unloading fish, they discovered the decomposed body inside. Massachusetts State Police were the first to respond.

“The body, which was wrapped and in a state of decomposition, is now with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy purposes. No further information is available at this time,” the D.A.’s office told PEOPLE.

A stock photo of a fishing vessel.Getty

The outlet reported that law enforcement confirmed their source’s information was accurate soon after.

The fishermen quickly reported their discovery to the Coast Guard, who told TMZ that their officials are still investigating.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The D.A.’s Office also told the outlet that they are aware of the incident, but have not been able to confirm the name, age or gender of the deceased person. It is also not yet known how the individual died.

Asked whether investigators are treating the case as a potential homicide, the office told TMZ: “No conclusions at this point. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy. That may help provide some answers.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Coast Guard for further information but did not immediately receive a response.

source: people.com