VRE Official: Body Parts Found in Package on Track

Update: Medical Examiner's office said that the remains are not human. 

Original article: 

Human body parts were found in a package at mile marker 30.6 on the railroad tracks in Manassas Park, said Mark Roeber, manager of public affairs for Virginia Railway Express.

Roeber told Patch that Manassas Park Police informed VRE officials of the remains at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

All Amtrak and VRE trains were prevented from moving until police gave them clearance, VRE spokesman Mark Roeber said.

Manassas Park Police Chief John Evans said he couldn't confirm that body parts or human remains were found at the scene.

The department did later release a statement saying the Virginia Medical  Examiner's Office is assisting in the investigation.

It is not clear exactly where the package was found, but most of the police activity Wednesday evening was centered where the rails meet Manassas Drive, just a stone's throw from the actual Manassas Park VRE station and lot.

Evans wouldn't confirm that someone from the department told VRE officials that body parts were in the package.

Prince William County Police are assisting in the investigation.

As of result of police activity Manassas Drive, the small city's main thoroughfare, shut down Wednesday evening for several hours leaving residents upset and with few other options. Police reopened the roadway at about 10:30 p.m.

Patch readers report that other area roads were heavily congested due to the closure.

Pedestrians attempting to cross the tracks on foot to get to the VRE overflow lot at Manassas Park City Hall or to other locations were turned around by police who suggested they call rides for the long journey through Manassas, down Liberia Avenue and back into Manassas Park to their destinations on the other side of the tracks.

[Keep up with up-to-the-minute VRE updates on the Manassas Park Patch Facebook page.]

Trains were stopped south of the Burke station around 6:45 p.m. due to the police investigation. 

At 9:30 p.m. Wednesday Manassas Park Police allowed an Amtrak train from Manassas to move through the area—the first train to do so in hours.

VRE officials said that Amtrak had to move to allow the VRE train to get to Manassas.

Train No. 331—which normally arrives in Manassas Park at just after 5:30 p.m.—was the first to be on the move. Officials said Trains 333, 335, 337 would follow though most of those trains would likely be empty, because buses were called to transport riders home.  Riders that didn't take buses, got off at other stops and sought alternate forms of transportation home.

Patch will post more information as it becomes available. 

Related Content: VRE Trains Stopped South of Burke for Suspicious Package Investigation