Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Body Found In Central Park Pond, Day After Body Found In Reservoir


By

Jen Chung

Published May 10, 2017

Modified May 10, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Chung

Published May 10, 2017

Modified May 10, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A body was discovered in the pond in Central Park this morning. The corpse was discovered near 59th Street and 5th Avenue around 7:30 a.m.

The police are investigating the circumstances of the person's death.

The grisly discovery was made one day after a "badly decomposed" body was found in the reservoir near East 87th Street and East Drive on Tuesday. The male body was apparently found by maintenance workers around 12:30 p.m.

A witness told the NY Post, "I saw something out there earlier today that looked like a potato sack floating. Couldn’t tell if it was a human, it looked like litter to me." Authorities are also probing the circumstances of his death.

Human remains found in bodies of water are referred to as "floaters" by the police. The NY Times once spoke to the head of the NYPD's Harbor Unit, who explained that in the winter, "the cold water temperature slows the decomposition of a body. As the temperature rises in the spring, decomposition speeds up, producing gases that make the body buoyant and bring it to the surface."

Tagged

body

central park

floater


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

In East Brooklyn, aging NYCHA homes get a $636M upgrade

The improvements to at the Reid & Park Rock developments come has the agency wrestles with a multibillion-dollar backlog in needed repairs.

By

Willow Higgins

Published Oct 26, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET


What NYers can expect as open enrollment for health insurance begins

Some consumers will face higher prices partly brought on by federal spending cuts.

By

Caroline Lewis

News

What NYers can expect as open enrollment for health insurance begins

Some consumers will face higher prices partly brought on by federal spending cuts.

By

Caroline Lewis


Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season

By

Catalina Gonella

Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election

By

Jill Webb

and

Michael Sol Warren

Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail

By

Michael Sol Warren


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .