A man who disappeared two months ago is believed to have died after falling into a recycling plant shredder while at work.
Duncan Alexander Burrell-Gordon's last known whereabouts was his job at the Industrial Recovery & Recycling facility in Greer, South Carolina.
The 20-year-old was reported missing by his family in early May.
The Independent reports that Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said in a statement on Wednesday that small pieces of human flesh had been found in the vicinity of a machine that Burrell had been working.
A DNA test on dried blood found at the scene enabled the coroner to confirm that it matched with Burrell's parents, according to The State.
The plastic shredding machine involved had been inspected three times before, with the deceased's father carrying out one of those.
“What we have tested and was positive came from under a support under the conveyor belt just after the plastic shredding machine,” wrote Mr Clevenger, according to NBC affiliate WYFF.
From the time Burrell is thought to have fallen into the industrial machine until early June, when the coroner first attended the site, it is thought that over 60,000 pounds of plastic was processed.
“I can confirm the material is consistent with human fat, microscopically minute particles of skin and small pieces of bone,” Mr Clevenger said in a news release, adding that he was unable to issue a death certificate because no body had been recovered.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration started an investigation after the coroner took his first sample at the start of June.
A spokesperson told The State that a decision on whether any safety violations had occurred would take another eight weeks.
A second investigation has been opened by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office but they told the Herald-Journal that they wouldn’t comment on the circumstances surrounding the 20-year-old’s death, including whether it was a homicide or an accident.
The owner of the factory could not be reached for comment by The Independent.
According to The State, records from OHSA indicate that there was one safety complaint levied against the company that involved the building’s refuse systems back in 2017 that resulted in a $500 fine.
