On Tuesday morning, while investigating a suspicious smell, police discovered human remains in the chimney of a public school located in Queens, New York.
The unsettling discovery was made at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo just before 9 a.m. Authorities were promptly notified and are now in the process of identifying the individual.
The city’s medical examiner has retrieved the remains and will be responsible for determining the cause of death.
A decomposed body was shockingly found inside the chimney of a Queens, New York, public school. (Peter Gerber)
At this time, it remains a mystery how long the remains have been in the chimney or how they got there in the first place.
No students or staff were in the building when the remains were uncovered, as school ended for the summer on Friday and the school was closed for construction, police said.
No students or staff were in the building when the remains were uncovered. (Peter Gerber)
Contractors had been working on the building over the last few days, and police are now trying to confirm whether all the workers have been accounted for, according to the New York Daily News.
Permits were obtained for wiring, hot water heating and other work, City Buildings Department records show.
The city’s medical examiners removed the remains and are trying to determine the cause of death. (Peter Gerber)
The City Department of Education described the discovery of the corpse as “deeply upsetting and concerning.”