Human remains were discovered inside a chimney at a public school in Queens, New York, on Tuesday morning. The grim find occurred while officials were investigating reports of a foul odor emanating from the building.
The discovery took place shortly before 9 a.m. at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo, an elementary and middle school. Law enforcement was called to the scene, and authorities have initiated efforts to identify the deceased individual.
The city’s medical examiner has taken custody of the remains and will conduct an examination to ascertain the cause of death. At this time, details regarding how long the remains had been in the chimney or the circumstances leading to their placement there remain unknown.
Investigation Underway at Closed School
No students or school personnel were present in the building when the discovery was made. The school had concluded its academic year for the summer break on Friday and was undergoing construction work.
Contractors had been performing work on the school building in the days leading up to the incident. Investigators are now attempting to verify that all workers involved in the construction have been accounted for. City Buildings Department records indicate that permits had been secured for various projects, including wiring and hot water heating installations.
The City Department of Education issued a statement describing the finding of the body as "deeply upsetting and concerning."
