Police were called to the area after a witness reported they had found a “deceased male,” at 1:22 p.m.

Arriving officers almost immediately called for the Webster County medical examiner.

Police spent about an hour combing the area where the deceased was found. Several items were placed in paper evidence bags after being collected from around the area where the body was located.

The body will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Ankeny to determine the cause of death.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
After the removal of the remains, Fort Dodge Police officer Caitlyn Keeling, at left, Sgt. Zach Stanley, evidence technician Brandi Lenning and Detective Larry Hedlund record the site where a decease male was found Tuesday afternoon at the edge of a field north of the Fort Dodge Target store.

Police have not released the name of the deceased pending notification of relatives.

Foul play is not suspected.

“What we can say is that there is no obvious evidence to suggest that foul play is involved,” Fort Police Capt. Ryan Gruenberg said.

Fort Dodge firefighters wore protective suits and breathing apparatus to remove the remains. That’s a procedure usually used when there is an advanced state of decomposition.

The area where the deceased was located has several trees and fairly high grass that’s part of a narrow furrow of land not planted with crops. It adjoins the fence behind the Target and Walmart stores on First Avenue South.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Wearing protective gear and respirators, a pair of Fort Dodge firefighters prepare to remove the remains of a deceased male found Tuesday afternoon north of the Target store.

Fort Dodge police, Fort Dodge Fire Department, paramedics from UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center and the Webster County medical examiner responded to the incident.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Fort Dodge Police Sgt. Zach Stanley, at left, along with officer Caitlyn Keeland check a section of fence along the north edge of the Fort Dodge Walmart parking lot after a body was discovered nearby.