ALOHA, Ore. -- Deputies said they found a decomposing body near Tualatin Valley Highway on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a tip from some construction workers.

Deputies received a call from some construction workers, who were in the process of putting in a nature trail, about a possible corpse after they found a severed foot in a brush-filled area on SW 160th Avenue near TV Highway at about 12:30 p.m., said Sgt. David Thompson of the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Joe Clark of Moore Excavation said finding a foot near his job site was very disturbing.

While on break Tuesday at about noon Clark noticed a size 12 men's shoe along with a small woman's ankle sock sitting in some brush.

"I was on my lunch break, walked back off the trail and saw what looked like a shoe and a sock sitting there," Clark said. "I realized there was a bone sticking out of the sock so I backed up off the trail and called 911 from there."

Washington county detectives immediately moved in and discovered the rest of the decomposing body. It is unclear how long the body had been there, Thompson said.

Deputies wouldn't say whether the body was that of a man or a woman but said it appeared the person may have been in his or her teens or early 20s, Thompson said.

He said investigators had an idea of who the dead person may be -- a reported runaway -- but the body hasn't been positively identified yet.

While Clark said finding the foot has bothered him he hopes the discovery helps the victim's loved ones.

"I'm glad it was found so family members can be let known," Clark said.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death, which deputies called suspicious, Thompson said. The investigation continued at the scene Wednesday.

Neighbors said a dead body near their homes is worrying.

"We've got a lot of kids here. My two boys ride their bikes on the sidewalk so it's scary," neighbor Noah Wolfe said.

Anyone with information about the body should call the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Found Severed Foot Leads To Decomposing Body