Crime & Safety

Headless Deer Found Along Route 22

The decapitated deer were spotted in the Scotch Plains and Mountainside area.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Two headless deer were spotted on the side of the road along Route 22 West in Union County, a resident told Patch.

The Union resident reported seeing two headless deer in the Scotch Plains and Mountainside area along the highway.

"What is happening to people? How can we allow a deer to sit there and then someone barbarically sever the heads?? I totally get if someone was to pick up a fresh kill to feed their family and use the deer (I’m not a meat eater, but it’s one way to honor the animal in this circumstance) but to steal the head is gruesome, disgusting and disturbing. This is like a sick episode of Criminal Minds," the resident wrote, who wished to remain anonymous.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The deer remain on then highway as of Thursday afternoon. Calls to local police, county and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection did not confirm any of the reportings.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has not returned information on this yet.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Motorists can report a carcass on Route 22 to the municipal police department where the carcass is located. The police department will then forward that information to the state. This procedure helps ensure that the removal goes through the proper pipeline for billing and payment," Tina Casey, spokeswoman for Union County told Patch.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

(Main photo via Morguefile and embedded images provided)



Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.