It was the flies that first drew the attention of Carol Thomas-Garretson.
"They've been out here since Thursday," Thomas-Garretson told NBC New York about several plastic garbage bags that the Union County Prosecutor said were filled with the body parts of two adults.
Thomas-Garretson, who lives in Linden, N.J., called the sanitation department. "My concern was there were flies off the bags," she said, though admitting she had no clue what was inside.
Sanitation workers came, realized there was something wrong, and then called police.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday afternoon, but in a mid-afternoon news conference, Union Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said there were a total of 6 bags found at the curb.
"Four were cloth used for laundry, two were black plastic bags," said Romankow.
At the news conference, the Prosecutor said he had no idea who they were, but described the male as appearing to be Hispanic, "between 30 and 35 years old." There was less information on the female, other than she could be white or Hispanic.
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Romankow said it is possible the bodies "came from another city or even another state."
It was an incongruous scene in a neighborhood that includes single family homes and neat, green lawns.
"The kids ride their bikes up and down the street," Thomas-Garretson said. "I don't like it, I don't like it one bit."
"I have officers talking with people in the neighborhood assuring them we will have extra patrols," said Linden Police Chief Michael Boyle.
Union County Prosecutor"s Spokesman John Holl said there is a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. Anyone who may know something is encouraged to call 908-654-TIPS.
Follow Brian Thompson on Twitter @brian4ny
