Philadelphia Police have arrested two people after authorities found a man’s body stashed in a plastic bin.
Andrew Ciaccia, 25, and Vanessa Pena, 21, have been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice, after authorities found a man’s body in a plastic storage container in Frankford last week.
Authorities identified the man as Robert Derer, 70, who had been reported missing from the home where the three lived. Derer’s death is being investigated as a homicide, and officials determined that he was killed by multiple blunt force impacts.
“Based on the evidence that we have so far, it appears to be foul play is a part of this whole situation,” Commissioner Richard Ross told ABC Philly.
“They found what they thought was blood on the steps. And there were some other items that I don’t want to get into right now. But it was something that led those officers when they first arrived to check on the well-being to determine that further action needed to be taken.” Lieutenant Norman Davenport told reporters that the corpse was stored for, “less than a couple weeks, to a few days.”
According to CBS Philly, family members reported Derer missing around 1 p.m. Thursday, and had not been heard from since Monday.
Police said no one has been charged with homicide, but the investigation is ongoing.
