Neighbors noted a foul odor had been coming from the property before the grisly discovery was made.
A California woman spotted walking with a human skull on a stick led authorities to human remains at an abandoned homeless camp, police said.
When approached by officers in Sacramento at about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, the woman, who police have said is transient herself, said she found the skull nearby, cops said.
She led them to an empty plot a few blocks away on Crosby Drive, where police discovered a decomposing body, officials said.
“A call like this is not something that happens every day,” Sacramento Police Sgt. Bryce Heinlein told FOX 40.
Read: Human Skulls Found at California Home
Neighbors said the homeless woman has lived in the area for years, telling reporters the body was located a few feet from her belongings.
They noted a foul odor was coming from the property before the grisly discovery was made.
Attempts made by InsideEdition.com to reach the realtor once connected to the apparently abandoned property were not successful.
Read: Hiker Discovers Bones Near Car, ID of Woman Who Disappeared 3 Years Ago
“We hope we can get down to the bottom of what caused this person to become deceased,” Heinlein said.
The woman who led police to the body has not been charged with any crime, police said, noting this is an active death investigation and has not been classified as a homicide at this time.
Police are awaiting the Sacramento County Coroner's report, which will determine if there was foul play.
"Once we have the coroner's report next week, we will hopefully have more details pertaining to the circumstances surrounding this incident," a spokesperson with the Sacramento Police Department told InsideEdition.com.
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