Construction workers at a Boston pier made a startling find last week when they came across what appeared to be a human skull encased in concrete, sparking speculation that it could be linked to one of the city’s notorious mob hits.
The discovery occurred Thursday as workers were cutting into a concrete section of the pier. Photos showed the unmistakable shape of a human skull embedded in a broken piece of material. “We could not believe what we were seeing,” workers told NBC 10 Boston. Police were called immediately, and the apparent skull was bagged and sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for testing.
Former Massachusetts state trooper Todd McGhee told NBC 10 that a mob connection seemed plausible. “The location was chosen where it was probably a remote situation and there was no anticipation of any human interaction in that area,” he said. “And lo and behold, the skull was discovered.” Boston’s long history with organized crime, including the infamous Winter Hill Gang led by Whitey Bulger, made the theory believable.
But by Monday, the mystery had been solved—though not in the way anyone expected. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that the skull was fake, the Boston Globe reported.
How the skull ended up in the concrete remains unclear, and authorities have not released details on any ongoing investigation.