Galveston County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of an unidentified man found on a stretch of railroad tracks in unincorporated Galveston County near Hitchcock late Monday.

BNSF (Burlington Northern – Santa Fe Railroad) personnel moving rail cars on a track about ¼ mile north of the 4300 block of State Highway 6 east of Hitchcock discovered the decapitated body of a male shortly after 6:00 PM today. 

Sheriff’s investigators described the male to be Hispanic, between 5’5” and 5’7” tall and weighing between 120 and 140 pounds.  He was possibly between 15 and 20 years of age, and had piercings to his eyebrows and tongue.  The man’s head appeared to have been severed by passing rail cars. 

The body was taken to the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s office in Texas City, and deputies hope an autopsy tomorrow will help them identify the man.  Investigators discovered no immediate signs of foul play but are not ruling out any possibilities at this early stage of their probe. 

Anyone with information that may help identify this man is encouraged to contact the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office at (409) 766-2322 or (866)248-8477.