Police: Torso may be that of missing Brisbane woman

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Detectives temporarily halted their search for additional remains in the case of an unidentified woman’s torso that was found over the weekend, according to Fremont police.

Investigators are now following up on leads and the Brisbane Police Department are cooperating with those efforts. A search was conducted at the home of Shelly Titchener, 57, of Brisbane who was reported missing to police on February 15th.

Police are not confirming the body parts are Titchener’s, but have also not ruled it out.

In addition, California Highway Patrol has notified both police departments involved that on Tuesday evening, Titchener’s husband, Paul, had committed suicide by jumping from the Bay Bridge. The late husband, however, was not named as a suspect, but rather as a person of interest.

Family members of the Titchener’s have been notified of the investigation and the cooperation of the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.

The gruesome discovery near the Dumbarton Bridge was initially reported by Fremont Police on Tuesday. Police said that on Sunday at 8:16 p.m., the torso of an unidentified woman was found by people who were fishing near Marshlands Road.

Fremont investigators met with the Alameda County Coroner on Monday. Officials said the arms, legs and head of the body were not located and appeared to have been severed from the torso.

Fremont police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Detective C. Gaches at 510-790-6900 or email Cgaches@fremont.gov.