UPDATE: Female Remains Found in Trash Can in Pleasanton

Updated Friday at 7:44 a.m.—The deceased body discovered Thursday is that of a woman, the coronor's office confirmed Thursday night. 

Human remains were found inside a 45-gallon trash can that looked a little out of place sitting on Dublin Canyon Road in Pleasanton on Thursday, police confirmed.

Lt. Jeff Bretzing said authorities do not know whether the remains are that of a man or woman, and have no idea of the victim's age.

The trash can, which was turned over on the roadway much of Thursday afternoon and visible from behind the police tape, did not look to be the same type of city-issued trash bin residents in the area use.

Reporters specifically asked if the Morgan Hill Police Department was involved, which would indicate that the remains could be those of Sierra LaMar, the high-profile missing 15-year-old girl. But Bretzing said no.

He said the coroner's office could have more information in a few hours.

This solidified what people already suspected. Crowds gathering near the blocked-off roadway saw what looked like a body shrouded in a white sheet being removed by the Alameda County coroner's office around 3 p.m.

The body, which looked to be that of an adult, was wheeled on a gurney from a spot uncertain into the van.

shut down part of Dublin Canyon Road as part of the apparent criminal investigation. The Alameda County Sheriff's Department crime lab was at the scene, which is on Laurel Creek Drive and Dublin Canyon Road near The Preserve, a neighborhood in the west part of the city. The trash can seemed to have sat in front of a bank of trees on Dublin Canyon; further back is a single house with a horse corral.

The area teemed with media crews late Thursday afternoon — several television news vans camped in the area while at least three news helicopters buzzed loudly overhead.

Bretzing said no other agencies are involved with the investigation — just Pleasanton police and Alameda County agencies. 

A resident called police around 11 a.m. Thursday to report that the trash can looked out of place, sitting on Dublin Canyon Road.

"We investigate everything in Pleasanton," Bretzing said.

The regular trash day in the neighborhood is Tuesday, according to neighbors.

Pleasanton Patch is on the scene, and we will update this story continuously as it develops.