Police sift through missing person reports after human remains found in shallow Detroit grave

The discovery of human remains in a small grave behind a Detroit residence on Monday prompted an inquiry. As they examine missing persons records, police are currently attempting to identify the remains.

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    Human remains were found partially buried in Detroit after construction crews saw a foot and shin sticking out of the ground.
    
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    Authorities are now looking at missing person cases as they work to ID the remains.
    
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    No one has lived in the home since early November, and it was being renovated to be rented out.
    

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  Human remains were found partially buried in Detroit after construction crews saw a foot and shin sticking out of the ground.
  
• 
  Authorities are now looking at missing person cases as they work to ID the remains.
  
• 
  No one has lived in the home since early November, and it was being renovated to be rented out.
  

DETROIT (FOX 2): On Monday afternoon, workers remodeling a house on the west side came to a sobering realization.

Construction crew discovers remains

Around 1 p.m., workers repairing the house in the 19700 block of Woodingham, close to Outer Drive, discovered the remains buried in a shallow grave.

Workers noticed a foot and a portion of a shin protruding from the ground, according to Detroit Police Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald.

Investigators said the bones were half buried and wrapped in a burlap bag. Part of the remains were composed.

The removal of the bodies, which took hours, involved the response of federal, state, and local officials.

As authorities worked to retrieve the remains, Fitzgerald said Monday afternoon, “It’s going to be tough for us, but we’re going to work around the clock.”

Late on Monday, the remains were finally taken out.

Police work to ID remains

As they try to identify the remains, investigators are currently going through missing person reports.

Whether the remains belonged to a youngster or an adult is unknown. Police are investigating both missing adults and children because the remains seem to belong to a person who was diminutive in stature.

The sex of the deceased and the length of time the remains have been behind the house are also unknown to the police.

“As of right now, we don’t know,” stated Fitzgerald. “All we see is a foot at this point.”

The residence has been vacant since early November, according to the neighbors. In order to have the house ready for rent, the current owner had personnel working on it.

What happens next?

“A lot to do,” mentioned Fitzgerald. “It’s very early on.”

Police anticipate further information by the middle of the week.

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