Women hiking in the Hollywood Hills discovered a human head after their two dogs began playing with the plastic bag it was contained in on January 17, 2012, USA Today is reporting. The Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew J. Smith confirmed the news as he prepared to speak to media in front of the Bronson Canyon Park entrance where the head was discovered.

The women, who are dog walkers and had about nine dogs with them, made the discovery around 3:45 pm as they were walking on a popular trail below the Hollywood sign. Sgt. Mitzi Fierro said “Two of the dogs began to play with the bag and what appeared to be an object. While the dogs were playing with it, at some point the object came out of the bag and they discovered that it was a head-a severed head.”

The head is believed to have belonged to a male. While there aren’t signs of decomposition yet, the head didn’t appear to have been in the area for long, Fierro added. Fierro also said that investigators are hoping to come up with a sketch of the victim in order to show the public and find someone who can identify who he is. Coroner’s investigators are attempting to identify the victim through dental records.

Written by: Karen Benardello