Severed head and hands found near Stan's hiking trail

Wilderness area running parallel to Bronson Canyon, where
head was found hours after these photos were taken.

Randy and Stan were in Bronson Canyon Monday, dropping off a squirrel that had attacked Randy's prize orange tree and needed a humane repatriation to Griffith Park. The duo didn't spot any human heads while they were there on this mission. But somebody else did, according to news reports on all the stations out here.

Today, Stan's grade school friend, Lorlee, who still cares about Stan's welfare, sent along this Yahoo News clipping, along with the caveat to "Be careful out there."

Here's the news clipping, along with some file photos that Stan happened to take of the general area while he was walking Birdie on Tuesday. He had no idea at the time that it might be a crime scene.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles investigators found a human hand Wednesday in the Hollywood wilderness park where a severed head in a plastic bag was discovered by dog walkers, and the search continued for other body parts.

The hand was discovered in Bronson Canyon as dozens of police officers, including homicide investigators, combed the brush along a winding trail a few miles below the Hollywood sign.

Area below Hollywood sign 
Stan and Birdie walked here. 

A coroner's cadaver dog found the hand about 50 yards from where the head was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The remains are believed to come from the same man. Wild animals in the park may have taken some other body parts, police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.

The head of a man in his 40s, 50s or 60s was found about a half-mile (kilometers) inside the gated canyon road, which is part of the vast Griffith Park.

"One of the dogs ran into the brush and came out carrying a plastic grocery bag. As the dogs shook the plastic grocery bag the severed human head fell out of the bag and onto the ground." Smith told KCBS-TV.

The man may have been killed elsewhere in recent days and his body dumped in the park, Smith said.

The man wasn't immediately identified. Police were checking reports of missing persons and coroner's investigators will check dental records.

Smith noted that the canyon is well-traveled by both cars and hikers. A paved road winds around picnic areas and a children's playground before connecting with a trail that eventually winds up near the Hollywood sign.