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Skeletal remains found in vacant East Harlem building, police say

Published Jul 9, 2026 at 6:23 p.m. ET

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Police said they found human skeletal remains on Wednesday inside a vacant East Harlem building where a homeless veteran was reportedly living, according to 311 complaints.

Officers responded to a call at 219 East 115th St. around 3:46 p.m. on Wednesday and discovered the remains inside an apartment in the building, according to authorities. Police have not yet identified the person and couldn’t say whether the remains belong to the veteran described in the complaint.

A representative for the owner found the remains while checking on the building, officials said. City records indicate the property owner is a mortgage company that did not immediately return requests for comment.

The building is a narrow, three-story row house that has stood vacant for years. City Department of Buildings records show it has 25 active violations dating back more than three decades, from September 1994 to November 2025. None of them were resolved.

A city inspector cited the building last year for a cracked and spalled facade, broken third-floor windows and dislodged cornice elements, records show.

A 311 complaint filed last year described the building as a former drug rehabilitation facility that was abandoned, unguarded and left unsealed, with a homeless veteran living inside for at least two years.

The city cited the building for a facade violation.

Police have not said whether the remains represent a full body or partial remains, and have not released the person's age or gender. The chief medical examiner’s office is conducting a forensic examination to determine the person's identity, authorities said.

Investigators have not said how long the building had been vacant or how long the remains may have been there.

Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected] , or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715

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