LIMA, Ohio — A Houston man found dead in a cornfield without his hands and head had been in Ohio looking for used cars, family members told authorities.

        Mario Alberta Parra, 45, was a self-employed used-car salesman and was in the area to look for cars, according to family members who spoke with inves tigators from the Allen County Sheriff's Office.

        Maj. Larry Van Horn said investigators haven't been able to confirm that Mr. Parra was in Lima looking for cars.

        They also haven't found a motive or suspects in the killing.

        It took authorities two months to identify the body because the hands and head were missing. Investigators believe the body was mutilated to cover up the crime. There were no other visible injuries.

        They identified his body by tracing screws and rods that were placed in his back during surgery. The screws were linked to Doctor's Hospital in Houston, where Mr. Parra had undergone back surgery.

        A maintenance worker cutting grass in August found the body about 20 feet from a road.

        An autopsy estimated Mr. Parra had been dead three to five days.

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