Police have identified a young woman whose skeletal remains were found last week in a wooded area in Dedham.
On Wednesday, April 5, a man walking in the area behind a large cemetery and near a housing complex came across something he told police he could not initially explain. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was body parts. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey says the remains are those of 22-year-old Susan Anyanwu-Corbin, an immigrant from Nigeria who was reported missing last year.
“Working over the weekend, the medical examiner was able to confirm Susan’s identity,” said Morrissey.
Police say they received calls last week from people who recognized photos of jewelry Anyanwu-Corbin was wearing, which were displayed in local newspapers and TV news reports. How she died is still a mystery, and Morrissey is looking for further help from the public.
“Now that we have a name attached to the body we are looking for information about her disappearance — people who may have socialized with her, resided with her, worked with her, corresponded on Facebook or even just socially friendly with her,” said Morrissey.
Dedham Police say Anyanwu-Corbin, who last resided in Dorchester, worked at various retail stores around Boston and arrived in the U.S. five years before she disappeared.
It is not yet known where in Nigeria she is from. It is estimated that the population of Nigerian immigrants in Massachusetts numbers as many as 40,000. The discovery and identification of Anyawu-Corbin’s body means that there is one fewer among them. The Norfolk County DA’s office is hoping that someone will also step forward to help provide the 22-year-old immigrant a decent burial.
Police ask residents to call the following numbers if you have more information that might help solve this mystery: Dedham Police Department at 781-751-9300 or State Police detectives attached to the Norfolk DA’s Office at 781-830-4990.
