PITTSBURGH — A probe into a series of thefts led state police to discover a submerged barrel believed to contain human remains, and authorities are considering the case a homicide investigation, state police said Wednesday.

The barrel was found in a body of water in Burrell Township near Blairsville, state police said. The Conemaugh River runs through the borough at the location where police say the barrel was found.

State police aren't revealing much information about the barrel because they don't want to tip off possible suspects.

"The people that we want to look at are all going to be dust in the wind" if police release too much information, Cpl. Kirt Allmendinger said.

Allmendinger's commander, Lt. Brad Shields, said the barrel was found as "a spinoff of another investigation."

"In investigating a series of robberies and burglaries, we developed information that there may be other criminal activity that has occurred that led us to the recovery of the barrel," Shields said.

The barrel and its contents were to be examined Wednesday by state police and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office in Pittsburgh.

"All indicators lead us to believe foul play was involved which ultimately led to the attempted concealment and disposal of the body," a police news release said. "At this time, we are treating this as a homicide investigation."

Indiana County Coroner Michael Baker said he will not release information at least until the victim's family is contacted and the autopsy is completed.