A shocking discovery was made at a primary school in New York, where a dead body was found in a chimney stack. Maintenance staff had been investigating a foul-smelling odor at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J Pranzo school in Glendale, Queens, and uncovered the remains.
The school had already broken up for the end of the week, and the building was closed for a construction project. Authorities are now working to identify the corpse, which was found at 9am local time on Tuesday. Officers are also accounting for all contractors on site, as works related to wiring and hot water heating had started on the premises over the last few days.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery are unclear, including how long the body had been left in the chimney and how it ended up there. Footage of the school's exterior showed scaffolding erected in one corner of the building close to a round steel chimney.
New York City's Department of Education has expressed its concern over the discovery, calling it "deeply upsetting and concerning." A spokesperson for the local police department confirmed that there were no students or school staff inside the building at the time of the discovery, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their death. The school will likely remain closed until further notice, pending the outcome of the investigation.
