Man charged with killing, cutting up mom

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NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A young New York man was charged Wednesday with killing his mother, cutting up her body and dumping the remains in the Bronx.

A friend, William Harris, 26, was charged with helping Bashid McLean, 23, in the disposal, The New York Times reported. Both men were charged with unlawful dissection of a body and hindering prosecution, while McLean was also charged with the second-degree murder of Tanya Byrd, 45.

Byrd's body was found Tuesday in four trash bags dumped in different places in the Melrose neighborhood, police said. Investigators believe her body was cut up in her apartment nearby.

The medical examiner had not yet announced a cause of death Wednesday.

Investigators said the dissection of the body made the task more difficult.

Neighbors said Byrd had a younger son with Down's syndrome.