By Zesha Saleem

Copyright dailystar

A man had the surprise of his life after he found a rotting human skull while at work. Walter Stephens was mowing a lawn when he came across the unexpected discovery, with reports suggesting police found more remains at a nearby creek . The Texan was carrying out a routine landscaping task on September 15 when he came across what he first thought was a ” dried cantaloupe.” He told KSAT : “I saw what looked like a dried cantaloupe or something. I picked it up, and the bottom part of the jaw stayed on the ground. When I turned it over and saw the teeth, I was like, ‘Oh my God.'” Turns out, it wasn’t a fruit of any sort, but in fact, a skull. He immediately notified his boss, who then called the police. When authorities turned up, they made more grim discoveries. They found a detached jaw, multiple bones, and other small body parts scattered behind the business near Martinez Creek, the outlet reported. An investigation is underway, with the cause and manner of death are still pending. It comes as a man was caught red-handed attempting to sneak ‘human remains’ past airport security in Florida, before bizarrely claiming the grisly cargo was needed for mysterious rituals. The disturbing find was uncovered by customs officials at Tampa International Airport in Florida this week after the traveller initially declared just 10 cigars. His luggage was packed with fragments appearing to be from a human skull and various bones, alongside “prohibited plants,” airport authorities revealed. Snapshots taken following the seizure show the bones wrapped in crumpled foil, used to keep them intact within the suitcase. The passenger insisted the items were for “rituals.” CBP officials didn’t specify what sort of rituals were involved. It remains unclear whether the traveller is facing any charges, reports the Mirror US . Images capture customs officers donning gloves whilst examining the material. Branded a “serious health risk”, the bones were seized and destroyed. Carlos C Martel, Director of Field Operations at the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Miami/Tampa Field Office, posted on social media: “What started as a passenger declaring just 10 cigars at TPA turned bizarre. “CBP Agriculture Specialists uncovered prohibited plants, undeclared cigars, and a foil-wrapped duffel bag containing what looked like human remains, including part of a skull. “The traveler claimed the items were for rituals, but due to serious health risks, the items were seized and destroyed. “At CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we’ll always have a bone to pick.” For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .