Hollywood Murder: Hand Found Near Severed Head

A human hand has been found near where a pair of dog walkers discovered a severed head on a hiking trail leading up to the iconic Hollywood sign.

The hand was found after police sealed off the area overnight following the discovery of the head, reported to be that of a male in his 40s.

Detectives believe the victim was killed elsewhere and his body parts dumped on the trail, which leads up through a canyon to the Hollywood sign.

Two female dog walkers made the gruesome find on Tuesday afternoon after noticing two of their dogs playing with an object.

Police said the remains appeared to be relatively fresh.

The hillsides around the Hollywood sign are criss-crossed with trails used by hikers, riders, and tourists seeking to reach the tinsel town symbol.

The sign is visible from miles away on the northern rim of the sprawling city.

It is near the site of the grisly "Black Dahlia" murder of 1947, when the horribly mutilated body of aspiring 22-year-old actress Elizabeth Short was found.