An investigation was underway after the remains of a fetus were found washed ashore on Miami Beach Tuesday.
Miami Beach Police said detectives responded to the scene of a death investigation in the 7900 block of the beach and later confirmed that the remains found were of a fetus.
Footage from Chopper 6 showed officers removing the remains with a shovel and closing the area off.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
The discovery was made around 1:30 p.m. and a radio call captured the incident being reported to police dispatch.
"Dispatch police to 79th Street on the beach. We have what looks like a remaining of a fetus, uh, that washed up ashore," the person says in the radio call.
Police said there are a lot of unknowns in the case, including who is the mother.
Local
"We don't know what the mother's part — if she played a part — in this," Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess said. "We don't know if this was possible miscarriage ... there are a lot of unknowns."
Nearly four hours after being discovered, the medical examiner showed up and put the remains in a bag before being taken away for an autopsy.