Man held on $10K bail in connection with discovery of human remains

DUXBURY, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A man was held on $10,000 bail Monday in connection with the discovery of human remains in Duxbury.

Jose Milthon Freddy Azurdia-Montenegro, 55, of Guatemala, has been charged with one count of misleading a police investigation. He was ordered to surrender his passport during his arraignment Monday in Brockton District Court.

Duxbury police were called to the intersection of Alexander Way and Walker Road just after 11:30 a.m. on July 27 on reports of a suspicious box. They arrived to find the box partially opened and a strong odor emanating from it. After an x-ray was conducted on the package, investigators determined it contained human remains.

"Even through the extensive wrapping, it smelled horrible," said Chandler Rodriguez, one of the people who discovered the box.

Federal officials identified the deceased via fingerprint analysis as Estuardo Leonel Melgar Perez, 44, of Guatemala. He was reportedly in the country just 48 hours before his death.

The cause and manner of Perez's death are still under investigation. The Plymouth County District Attorney's office notes a 14-inch incision was seen on Perez's abdomen. Sources tell FOX 25 investigators are looking into whether Perez was a drug mule who was killed in order to retrieve drugs.

"The only injury to the body was an incision from the breastbone down to the pelvic area," said Peter Maguire of the DA's office.

During their investigation, police reportedly found a man who is in the business of buying and selling cars in Massachusetts. That man led police to Azurdia-Montenegro, who was picked up at JFK International Airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Honduras. Azurdia-Montenegro was taken to Brockton for questioning. During questioning, the 55-year-old initially said he didn't know the victim, but later said he knew him for five or six years and worked with him buying and selling old cars.

Azurdia-Montenegro's defense attorney said he was never questioned about Perez's death and that his client was cooperative.

Investigators say Perez entered the U.S. via JFK International Airport on July 25 on a flight from Honduras. He was scheduled to leave the U.S. on August 2. Azurdia-Montenegro was also scheduled to be on that return flight to Honduras.

Cox Media Group