Tip Leads Police to Human Bones Buried in Brooklyn Backyard: Sources

Bones confirmed to be human remains were recovered from a Brooklyn backyard where investigators, acting on a tip, began digging Thursday, according to law enforcement sources. 

The bones were found in the yard of a home on Saint John's Place in Prospect Heights. Additional bags of evidence were also recovered, along with what appears to be a body bag. 

Police are investigating the possibility the remains belonged to someone who was killed 10 years ago, according to sources. Oswald Lewis, an alleged drug smuggler arrested in August after a shootout with U.S. Marshals, lived in the home at some point several years ago, neighbors say, and law enforcement officials are investigating whether the body may be linked to his drug gang.

Residents were in the house when police arrived with a warrant Thursday. There's nothing to suggest they have any connection to the dead body in their yard, the sources said.

A 25-year-old man at the home, who only gave his last name as Nelson, said his aunt owns the home and that he had been staying there for the last few days. He returned home to find police had taken it over and would not let him in.

"I can't believe it. I've been sleeping there for days and I didn't know," he said. "It's like a movie." 

Neighbors said an older man lived in the home with his wife 10 years ago, and that the man died a few years ago. Lewis then moved in and neighbors suspected there was criminal activity happening inside, but in the last two years the house has been trouble-free.

"It's been pretty quiet, so I'm really shocked to see all of the traffic and all the commotion going on," said Tiffany Henry.

"That's really crazy. That's terrible. I have no idea what's going on," she said. "I'm just really scared and nervous." 

Investigators are working to identify the victim and determine a cause of death. 

Follow Jonathan Dienst on Twitter @jonathan4NY

Follow Ida Siegal on Twitter @idasiegal4NY

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