Human remains found inside the chimney of a public school in New York
The discovery occurred at a Queens school that was closed for vacation and construction work.
Authorities in New York are investigating the discovery of human remains inside the chimney of a public school located in the district of Queens, a case that has raised questions about how the person arrived at the site and how long he had been there.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that it received a 911 call around 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday for a possible finding of human remains at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo School, located in Glendale.
According to local media reports, a pest control worker working in the building alerted the authorities after perceiving a strong smell coming from inside.
Remains were found inside a fireplace
Upon arrival at the site, investigators located human remains inside a school building chimney.
So far, the authorities have not revealed the identity of the person or determined the cause of death.
The New York Medical Examiner's Office removed the remains and will be responsible for establishing both the identity and circumstances of the death.
Investigators have not specified how long the body had been in place.
School was closed for holidays and construction
The school was closed for the start of the school break and for construction work when the finding occurred, so there were no students or teaching staff within the facility.
According to records from the city's Department of Buildings, work on electrical systems, heating, and other improvements had been authorized at the site.
Authorities also review whether all persons linked to the works and contractors who have recently worked on the building are fully identified.
Authorities ask to wait for the results of the investigation
The New York Department of Education called the finding “deeply disturbing and troubling.”
In a statement, he indicated that support measures will be implemented for the educational community while the police investigation continues.
For now, the authorities have not reported if there are signs of criminal activity and indicated that they will disclose more details as the case progresses.