A father and two sons hiking near Sulphur Spring Road in Arbutus in Southwestern Baltimore County discovered a decomposed body in a wooded area yesterday evening, authorities reported.

Police said the body was so badly decomposed that neither the race nor gender of the person was known last night. A spokesman was unable to say whether the body was clothed, or if any personal items were found at the scene.

The body was taken to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy to determine its identity and the cause of death. An investigation was to continue today, police said.

Pub Date: 8/30/98