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Skeletal remains found in backyard of West Village building, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 9:29 a.m. ET
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 9:29 a.m. ET
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Construction workers discovered part of a 19th-century human skeleton behind a building in the West Village on Thursday, according to the NYPD.
Officials said a construction crew excavating the backyard of 79 Christopher St. called 911 around 11 a.m. after finding several bones and part of a skull, buried 4 to 7 feet below the ground.
The city medical examiner determined that the bones were historic, and likely buried when the plot of land was used as a cemetery for the neighboring church in the mid-1800s, according to the NYPD. The property is adjacent to St. John’s Lutheran Church, which dates back to 1855.
Police said no foul play was suspected, and that it was not immediately clear if the remains belonged to a woman or a man.
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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