Dead whale washes ashore in N.J., gets tagged with graffiti

Bob Schoelkopf, right, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, looks over a minke whale that washed up along with a common dolphin, in foreground, in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday, May 1, 2014. (AP / The Press of Atlantic City, Vernon Ogrodnek)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A dead Minke whale that washed ashore in New Jersey suffered some further indignity: someone tagged it with graffiti.

The whale, which was up to 4.57 metres long, was discovered Thursday morning below Atlantic City's Central Pier.

Police tell The Press of Atlantic City the purple markings are not gang-related and appear to be Greek letters.

The letters appeared to be Tau Epsilon Phi, a fraternity that has chapters at several area schools, followed by what looked like "94."

Spokesman Jesse Cohen says while it has not been confirmed that Tau Epsilon Phi members were involved, the fraternity considers it a "reprehensible act" contrary to its teachings and is co-operating with authorities.

A state pathologist will try to determine the cause of death.