A 46-year-old New Jersey man was arrested in connection with the death of a uniquely tattooed woman whose body was found in a refrigerator dumped in Belleplain State Forest.
John Tyrrell, from Cape May County, is accused of fourth degree obstruction after he declined to be fingerprinted or surrender his cell phone password to investigators, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
He hasn’t been charged with the woman’s murder.
Police released a sketch of the victim’s tattooed back Monday hoping tips from the public would help them to identify the 5-foot-1-inch woman who’s either Caucasian or Hispanic. A yoga mat and necklace were found near her body, which was discovered Dec. 22.
Tyrrell was jailed Thursday, according to NJ.com. Prosecutors asked that he remain held Friday for failure to cooperate in the investigation, but a judge freed him Monday.
Tyrrell is reportedly a registered sex offender, though he’s had no violations since, his attorney argued to the court while securing his release. He’s ordered to avoid the forest during the investigation and check back in with the court next week.
Investigators reportedly got a warrant for Tyrrell’s phone because he was near the more than 21,000-acre forest when the victim was located.
Tyrrell’s attorney claimed the obstruction suspect was hiking when he came upon the victim’s body. He sent State Police a signal to help them locate that body and waited for authorities to arrive, local news site Breaking AC reported. He then walked them to the victim.
Tyrrell’s attorney said his client was “maybe a little angry” at being asked for his phone under the circumstances, hence his reluctance. Investigators now have access to the device and have until Thursday to look through it. There’s no indication so far of any evidence tying him to the woman’s death, Breaking AC reported.
According to Tyrrell’s attorney, his client appears to be an “eyewitness to this case and nothing more.”
Investigators are still trying to determine the victim’s identity and seeking information about her death. Anyone with information is asked to notify State Police or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
One of the tattoos on the victim’s body appears to be a koi fish on the upper-right hand side of her back. The other features an intricate floral pattern ascending from her left hip to under her ribcage.
