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OREM — Police in Orem made an unexpected discovery Wednesday during a routine traffic stop — a severed finger wrapped in a cloth.
The discovery was made while officers were checking the driver's wallet.
"The finger had what appeared to be pus and blood on it. The joint was beginning to turn green and the fingernail appeared to be decayed. When officers removed the finger from the cloth wrap, a noticeable foul smell was observed," a police booking affidavit states.
It was not immediately known how the man came to be in possession of the finger.
Victor Naum Chavez-Zuniga, 27, was pulled over Wednesday near 300 South and 1200 West in Orem for having a headlight out, according to the affidavit. After checking his license, officers learned that Chavez-Zuniga had warrants out for his arrest.
Chavez-Zuniga was placed in handcuffs as the officers checked his wallet. That's when the finger was found, according to the affidavit. He was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of abuse or desecration of a dead body.
In 2018, Chavez-Zuniga was convicted of attempted communications fraud for providing fake pay stubs and W-2 documents to people and encouraging them to get loans from the bank, and then take the money after the loan was approved, according to court documents. He was charged with 15 felonies but pleaded guilty to one reduced charge.
That case was resolved at the same time as a second case in which Chavez-Zuniga pleaded guilty to forgery for creating false pay stubs at his actual business in order to get loans in 2017, according to court records.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in December when he failed to show up for a court hearing to review his probation on both cases.
