Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Sanitation crew finds human remains in tarp near Queens park, police investigating
By
Paige Oamek
Published Sep 23, 2025
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 .
Google Maps
By
Paige Oamek
Published Sep 23, 2025
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
Authorities are investigating after city sanitation workers discovered human remains wrapped in a tarp near JFK Airport on Monday, sanitation and police officials said.
The workers were cleaning a wooded area near 149th Avenue and Brookville Boulevard, along the edge of Queens’ Idlewild Park, around 7 a.m. when they found something suspicious and called 911 about potential human remains, according to authorities.
NYPD officers responded to the call, leading police and sanitation officials to confirm there were remains in the tarp. Officials did not specify the person’s sex, their approximate age, the type of remains or other details about the investigation.
City medical examiners are working to determine the person’s cause of death.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.
Tagged
idlewild park
jfk airport
new york city
public safety
queens
sanitation
Paige Oamek
Paige Oamek is a reporter on Gothamist & WNYC's day-of general assignment desk.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
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 .