Sept. 11--Chicago police widened their search for remains of a dismembered child to two other West Side parks Friday, officials said.
Officers with cadaver dogs were sent to Humboldt Park and Columbus Park, both with lagoons and both just a few miles from Garfield Park Lagoon, where the head, feet and hands of a small child were found last weekend.
"This is a precautionary measure," said Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman. "We continue to drain the lagoon in Garfield Park. But we've said there is a possibility the torso is not in that lagoon."
Guglielmi said investigators are also sorting through more than 200 tips from the public. "We do have a fair number of leads we consider credible," he said, declining to give details.
The first remains were discovered Saturday afternoon when a woman called 911 to report a foot floating in the lagoon. It turned out to be the left foot of the child, according to authorities.
Police later found the child's other foot and both hands toward the north end of the lagoon about 25 yards away. A 20-pound weight was found nearby, authorities said. Late the next day, the child's head was discovered near where other body parts were found.
Officials said the body is likely that of an African-American boy, but have cautioned that they cannot rule out that the body is of a "mixed-race heritage" and possibly a girl. The age could range from 8 months to 4 years old, but is most likely 2 or 3.
"The hair was short, curly and black in color; the eyes were brown; and the earlobes were not pierced, suggesting the child may be male (but female gender cannot be ruled out at present)," according to a statement from police and the medical examiner's office.
On Thursday, police released a sketch of the child bases on photos, X-rays and a visual examination of the skull.
Anyone with information about missing children fitting the description is asked to contact Area North detectives at 312-744-8261, send a text to CRIMES (274637) or call 1-800-535-STOP.
