Metro

Dead body found wrapped in sleeping bag on NYC sidewalk next to trash bags

By
Peter Gerber,
Larry Celona and
David Propper
Published July 6, 2024, 12:15 a.m. ET

A dead body was found wrapped in a sleeping bag that was placed atop a dolly on a Manhattan sidewalk Friday evening, police said.

The grim discovery was made after cops were called to investigate a “suspicious package” outside of 207 East 27th Street in Kips Bay about 5 p.m., according to the NYPD.

The sleeping bag was left among several black trash bags placed on the sidewalk for garbage collection.

The grim discovery was made after cops were called to investigate a “suspicious package” outside of 207 East 27th Street in Kips Bay about 5 p.m.
The grim discovery was made after cops were called to investigate a “suspicious package” outside of 207 East 27th Street in Kips Bay about 5 p.m. Peter Gerber

“It looked like whoever did it went through a lot of trouble to make sure it was wrapped up and stuck out in the open,” local Ted Oehmke told The Post.

“But I was pretty surprised to see it sitting there in the regular garbage as if sanitation was gonna pick it up and take it away,” said Oehmke, who posted video and photo on social media of officers surrounding the sleeping bag.

Oehmke said he believes he saw the top of the head as he walked by the scene.

“I see people sleeping around here all the time,” he said. “It looked like it could be just a, it’s like another body on the ground. The people I see around here, they’re not dead but they look like they could be half the time so I guess it wasn’t really that much of a shock.”

The sleeping bag was left among several black trash bags placed on the sidewalk for garbage collection.
The sleeping bag was left among several black trash bags placed on the sidewalk for garbage collection. Ted Oehmke/X
It is also unknown if foul play was involved in the death, pending an examination by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, police said. 
It is also unknown if foul play was involved in the death, pending an examination by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, police said.  Peter Gerber
Locals say they were left feeling "unnerved" following the discovery of the abandoned body on the sidewalk.
Locals say they were left feeling “unnerved” following the discovery of the abandoned body on the sidewalk. Peter Gerber

Another local said the abandoned body left her unnerved.

“It’s not something you see in this area a lot so that’s a little scary,” Marina Alves said.

The identity of the person, including age and gender, is not yet known.  

It is also unknown if foul play was involved in the death, pending an examination by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, police said.