Human skull found in Oakland backyard

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) –

What is the first impression of a dog?

People who live in the West Oakland neighborhood are in shock over the discovery of the skull.

"I'm very sad," said Fentahun Biwota, when told about the skull.

Sky 7 shows the backyard at West and 29th streets where two people visit the home in plain sight.

"It was broken down and had a little bit of flesh on it," said Oakland Police Department Sgt. Michael Cardoza.

What the people did next surprised even seasoned officers.

"They thought it was real enough that we had to be brought to our attention immediately," Cardoza said.

The people who discovered the city at the police station. At first officers thought it was a prank, being so close to Halloween, but when they were outside the house, they knew it was real.

"I can say in my years of service I have never had a human skull delivered to the police station," Cardoza said.

The Alameda County Coroner 's Office is now working to determine the identity and cause of death.

"I'm not saying there's anything in there, but that's something we're working on," Cardoza explained.

The mystery is made more difficult because of the skull was moved.

"If I found it, I have to call the police before I touch it," Biwota said, feeling that it was echoed by other neighbors.

Police are searching through missing person's boxes, working to locate the rest of the body, and asking anyone with information to come forward.

Oakland Police said anyone with information on the topic should be homicide section at (510) 238-3821 or their tip line at (510) 238-7950.