Human Remains Found in Chimney of New York School Mystify Investigators

QUEENS, N.Y. — It’s the kind of discovery that sounds more like the opening scene of a mystery novel than a real-life police investigation.

Authorities in New York City are trying to determine how what appear to be human remains ended up inside the chimney of P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo, a public elementary and middle school in Queens. The remains were discovered Tuesday morning, just days after students had left for summer vacation and while the building was closed for scheduled construction work.

According to police, officers responded shortly before 9 a.m. after workers reported the grisly discovery. No students or teachers were inside the building at the time, and investigators say it remains unclear how long the remains had been there—or how they got into the chimney in the first place. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the identity of the deceased and the cause of death.

The Department of Education called the discovery “deeply upsetting and concerning” and said counseling and other support will be made available for the school community if needed. Records show the building had recently been undergoing repairs involving wiring, heating, and other maintenance projects.

The bizarre circumstances have fueled widespread speculation online. Some wondered whether the person had become trapped while trying to enter or leave the building years ago. Others questioned whether ongoing construction might have uncovered remains that had gone unnoticed for decades.

For now, police aren’t offering any theories.

Until investigators can identify the victim and determine how long the remains were inside the chimney, the case remains an unsettling mystery.

One thing, however, is certain:

Finding a bird’s nest in a chimney is unusual.

Finding human remains is something else entirely.