West Valley City police are investigating the discovery of a human tongue found in an apartment complex parking lot last month following a violent altercation. The mystery began on September 5 when officers responded to a report of a fight in progress at the Shadowbrook Apartments, located at 3860 S. Redwood Road. Upon their arrival, those involved in the incident had already departed the scene.
A witness present at the scene provided crucial details to officers. The witness told police he observed five men holding down another man and beating him with rocks. While officers were at the scene, the witness pointed out a severed tongue resting on nearby rocks, accompanied by blood. The witness also indicated that several rocks found near the lone tongue were used in the assault against the victim.
The witness further claimed that after the altercation, one of the suspects approached him. This individual was reportedly still holding a rock and had an injury to his head. As the witness contacted 911 to report the incident, the entire group of suspects fled toward another section of the apartment complex. They then departed the area in a red vehicle, according to the witness.
Following the discovery, West Valley City police initiated an extensive search for the victim and further information. Authorities contacted hospitals in the surrounding area, but none reported treating a patient for a severed tongue. Additionally, residents of the apartment complex could not provide any further details regarding the incident or the individuals involved. Detectives have since located the man initially suspected of being the victim in the assault. Investigators determined that his tongue was intact, which led them to conclude that the severed tongue likely belonged to one of the attackers involved in the incident.
Currently, police report that there are no active leads in the ongoing investigation. To gather more information, detectives have requested a search warrant. This warrant aims to obtain security video footage from a nearby rental car location, which authorities hope may provide additional insights or clues to aid their investigation into the identity of the person whose tongue was found and the circumstances surrounding the violent event at the Shadowbrook Apartments.