Human Remains Found Near LaGuardia Airport

An airport maintenance worker discovered the fragmented bones

A set of human remains were found scattered within a 20 yard radius near the shoreline of a marshy area near LaGuardia Airport Monday night.

An airport maintenance worker discovered what looked like a human bone while clearing tall grass, weeds and leaves beyond the airport's fence at the edge of Flushing Bay, a spokesman for the Port Authority said Tuesday.

The Port Authority responded, and discovered several more bones in at least 17 different places near the shoreline. 

The bones, which included a partial skull, were turned over to the medical examiner's office where investigators determined that they were human remains and not animal bones, authorities said.

The bones were collected by an anthropologist from the medical examiner's officer, where they're being analyzed and put into a skeleton, law enforcement officials said.

At this point, officials estimate the bones may have been in the marsh for up to a year.

Investigators will try to identify the remains using dental records, and detectives are also reviewing missing-person cases.

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