Police make arrest in case involving human remains found in abandoned luggage

Police lights. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Ana Campbell

Jan. 08, 2021, 3:34 p.m.

The Denver Police Department has made an arrest in a grisly case in which human remains were discovered in suitcases in southwest Denver.

Police said Benjamin David Satterthwaite was arrested for investigation of first degree murder after the remains of an unknown man were discovered near Sanderson Gulch Trail on Dec. 29, 2020.

On Jan. 1, officers responded to a medical call at an apartment on South Federal Boulevard.

“There they located evidence and a crime scene consistent with this homicide case, and follow-up investigation resulted in Satterthwaite’s arrest,” a statement from DPD read.

The city’s medical examiner hasn’t identified the deceased man, but officers said Satterthwaite likely knew him.

DPD declined to provide more details, citing the ongoing investigation.

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