‘Human’ remains found inside chimney of primary school in New York

A dead body was found in a chimney stack at a primary school in New York.

Maintenance staff discovered the remains while investigating a foul-smelling odour at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J Pranzo school in Glendale, Queens.

Staff and pupils were not present as the school had already broken up at the end of last week.

The building had since been closed for a construction project, Fox News reported.

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, with works relating to wiring and hot water heating having started on the premises over the last few days.

It remains unclear 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 said the discovery was ‘deeply upsetting and concerning’.

A spokesperson for New York Police Department said: ‘On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 0859 hours, police responded to a 911 call for possible human remains discovered in the vicinity of 87 Street and 78 Avenue, within the confines of the 104th Precinct.

‘Upon arrival, officers were informed that possible human remains had been discovered inside a chimney at P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo School.

‘There were no students or school staff inside the building at the time of the discovery. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.’

Metro has contacted NYC Public Schools for comment.

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