Suitcase containing human remains pulled out of East River in New York City
Human remains were found inside a suitcase in New York City’s East River, and now authorities are trying to figure out how they ended up there.
The New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit pulled the remains out of the river near Governor's Island around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the department confirmed in a statement to Paste BN.
The remains were taken to Pier 17, where emergency responders showed up and pronounced the individual deceased.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing.
As of Thursday morning, the individual had not been identified.
A similar gruesome discovery 2 years ago in NYC
The discovery comes two years after a 22-year-old woman's remains were found in two suitcases in New York City in September 2022. Someone called officials to the apartment in Brooklyn for a wellness check. Her remains were found hidden inside the suitcases.
According to authorities, neighbors reported an odor coming from the apartment and the woman had not been seen for days, television station WABC reported at the time. The woman was eventually identified as D’Asia Johnson.
In November of 2022, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced murder and dismemberment charges against Johnson's ex-boyfriend, Justin Williams.
“This defendant is accused of the horrific murder and dismemberment of his former girlfriend," District Attorney Gonzalez said in a news release. "While we can’t erase the tragic and cruel death of D’Asia Johnson, we are fully committed to bringing this defendant to justice. I hope that this prosecution brings a measure of solace to D’Asia’s family and friends.”
According to officials, Williams dismembered the woman, hid her body in two suitcases and continued to live in the apartment for a month, using towels and cleaning products to mask the smell.
Contributing: Jordan Mendoza
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.