An autopsy revealed that the body in the barrel was a petite woman with black hair. Further investigation showed that she was pregnant with a baby boy that was nearly full-term. The woman suffered from blunt-force trauma to the head, and the medical examiner reported finding 10 lacerations to the back of the head and multiple fractures to the skull (via Forensic Files). The autopsy also determined that the woman was Hispanic and was between the ages of 20 and 30 at the time of her death. The unique dental procedure on her teeth led the examiner to believe that she was from a South American country.

Detectives traced the origin of the barrel, and they confirmed that it came from Melrose Plastics, a company in Manhattan that specialized in artificial flowers in the 1960s, as reported by the New York Daily News. That also explained the presence of the plastic stem inside the barrel.

The address book and a note found inside the barrel were damaged but fortunately, forensic technicians were able to find a way to see the writing via a video spectral comparitor, according to CBS News. The note read, “Don’t be mad I told the truth” and “Marroquin” was written on the address book, along with an immigrant visa number, which led detectives to the name Reyna Marroquin. Another name on the address book, Katy Andrade, was also found, and she still resided at the address that was indicated.