09/20/09Specimen hand startles man digging in Md. yard

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NORTH EAST, Md. (AP) - A severed human hand has been unearthed from the yard of a Maryland home, but police say this is no whodunit.

Investigators believe it's a decades-old medical school specimen left by a former resident.

Still, it was an odd discovery for the electrician who dug it up in the northeastern part of the state. It was muddy, but only the fingertips showed signs of decay.

Maryland State Police Trooper First Class Dave Feltman says the hand found Tuesday appeared to be surgically removed.

The son of a previous owner of the house tells police it was a souvenir he took home as a student at the University of Maryland's medical school more than 50 years ago.

Police said they believe his account, but sent it to the state medical examiner as part of routine procedure

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