This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

The badly decomposed body of what officials believe is a woman was found Tuesday in Santa Clarita, prompting an investigation.

Authorities block the near where a badly decomposed body was found in Santa Clarita on March 7, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)

The remains were discovered by an off-duty Los Angeles firefighter who was walking his dog around 12:15 p.m. near Golden Valley Road about a quarter-mile west of Robert C. Lee Parkway, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

The location is near a gated community and Golden Valley High School; several industrial-type businesses, including an oil field, appear to be located in nearby open space as well.

Sgt. Troy Ewing said the “skeletal remains” appeared to have been there for several weeks.

“It’s obvious that the body has been there for some time now,” he said.

It’s not clear how far from the roadway the remains were discovered.

The sheriff’s homicide bureau as well as coroner’s officials responded.

KTLA’s Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this story.  

The approximate location where possible human remains were found is indicated in a Google Maps image.