RESERVE — Local authorities, who discovered a severed human arm a week ago, are asking the public for help today as an investigation into its background has yielded little answers.

The severed arm was found at approximately 8:30 a.m. Dec. 29 near the Reserve Canal at Interstate 10 east bound near mile marker 202.9.

In a release today (Jan. 5), the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office said deputies were alerted to the scene after receiving a report from a fisherman who found the arm in the water.

“Detectives are investigating to determine how the body part ended up in the waterway,” the release said. “Detectives searched for any additional body parts, but none were immediately found. The arm has been sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for examination.”

Results may be received in six to eight weeks, authorities said.