Police in New York City are investigating a disturbing discovery after human remains were found inside the chimney of a school in Glendale, Queens. The remains were located at PS 113, and the find unfolded during the summer break, when the building was empty. Investigators were called to the scene and the inquiry is now underway.
According to authorities, the discovery began at around nine o'clock in the morning, when an exterminator was working on the roof of PS 113. While carrying out that work, the exterminator noticed a foul odor coming from the area, an unsettling detail that would soon prompt a call to police.
The exterminator alerted authorities, and officers arrived to investigate. It was during that response that police discovered the human remains inside the chimney of the school, turning what began as a routine job on the roof into the start of a criminal-style investigation at a neighborhood school.
Officials stressed that no one was inside the school when the remains were found. With classes out for the summer, the building was unoccupied, and there were no students or staff present at the time of the discovery on the Glendale campus.
Police responded in force and an investigation got underway at the site, with a news helicopter capturing the scene from overhead as officers worked at the building. Authorities began the painstaking process of examining how the remains came to be in such an unusual location.
As of the latest reports, authorities had not released the identity of the person whose remains were found, nor offered an explanation for how they ended up inside the chimney. The investigation was continuing, with police expected to provide more information as it develops.