A decaying body was discovered lodged inside the chimney of a Queens public school on Tuesday morning. An exterminator found the remains after being summoned to P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo, located at 87th Street and 78th Avenue in Glendale, to investigate a persistent, putrid odor.
The pest control worker made the discovery shortly before 9 a.m. when a janitor directed him to the school to address the smell. According to law enforcement sources, the exterminator opened the ash dump and found a shoe, subsequently feeling a foot inside the chimney.
The New York City Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit was on the scene to facilitate the removal of the body. The city's medical examiner's office will now work to determine the cause of death. It remains unclear how long the body had been inside the smokestack.
Investigators are examining whether the body's presence is connected to recent construction work at the school. Law enforcement sources indicated that authorities are looking into whether any individuals involved in the repairs have been reported missing.
School was not in session at the time of the discovery, as students and most staff were not present due to the summer break. Only a janitor was at the school when the exterminator arrived.