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Body Found Buried In Missing Man's Backyard In Ridgewood, Queens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A body was found Tuesday evening, buried in a shallow grave in the Ridgewood section of Queens.

Police did not immediately identify the body, but it was found outside 1866 Putnam Ave. That is the address of Frank Soucie, 60, who was reported missing by his girlfriend who resides with him.

He was last seen on April 22.

Crime scene technicians continued to work under lights behind the home late Tuesday night. Neighbors said it was the worst possible kind of discovery, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.

"Human body parts," said Joseph Peebles. "I saw it with my own two eyes. It's crazy."

Law enforcement sources told 1010 WINS that a neighbor reported seeing a man, who appeared to be the girlfriend's son, dumping a large bag in the trash.

Police responded to the scene and found gloves, ammonia, and a laundry cord. They also found a burned sleeping bag in the garage, sources told 1010 WINS.

Law enforcement sources also told 1010 WINS that during a search of the house, they spotted some fresh dirt.

Police dug up what appeared to be a shallow grave and found remains of what appeared to be a middle-aged male, sources said.

Police blanketed the Ridgewood neighborhood, including rooftops, where some of the evidence was found.

Soucie's son put out a public appeal for help last week. Friends of the retired postal worker were distraught over the development.

Frank Soucie
A body was found buried in a shallow grave at the home of Frank Soucie (left), who has been missing since Monday, April 22. (Credit: Soucie Family/Facebook)

"Everybody loved Frank. He would say hello to everybody," said Ann Marie Paredes. "It's just horrible. It's so senseless. It's terrible what happened."

One resident was led away by police for being inside the police line without identification, Young reported. The entire neighborhood was tense Tuesday night.

Soucie is a widower and the father of two grown sons, whom he raised on the block.

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office must conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

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