According to a report published by Blaze Media on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, a horrifying discovery was made early Monday morning when human remains were found burning in a shopping cart beneath the Oak Street Bridge over the Bronx River Parkway in Yonkers, New York. This shocking scene set off an investigation that led police to a gruesome discovery in a Bronx kitchen.
At approximately 2 a.m. on Monday, firefighters from the Mount Vernon Fire Department responded to reports of a fire beneath the Oak Street Bridge, told CBS News. After extinguishing the flames, they made a chilling discovery: a body, mutilated and set alight, inside a shopping cart. The remains were so severely burned and dismembered that determining the victim’s age, s*x, and cause of death proved exceedingly difficult. Yonkers Police confirmed that the body had been placed in the cart before being set on fire at the location.
Despite the severity of the scene, police have been cautious about confirming reports that the body was dismembered, stating that the condition of the remains made it impossible to confirm such details immediately.
The investigation quickly led police to a kitchen in a residence on Rogers Place in the Bronx, approximately eight miles from where the burning body was found. Investigators discovered additional human remains in the kitchen, which they believe are connected to those found in Yonkers. In addition to the remains, authorities uncovered drug paraphernalia and a firearm in the bedroom of the Bronx residence.
According to a high-ranking NYPD source, investigators obtained surveillance footage showing a man pushing a shopping cart onto a Metro-North train in the Bronx. The cart in the video appeared to match the one later found burning in Yonkers, providing a crucial lead in the case. The official also noted that the body had its teeth knocked out and its hands missing, suggesting a deliberate attempt to prevent identification of the victim.
Despite these findings, the police have yet to identify the victim. The Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office is tasked with determining the cause of death and any further identifying details. As of now, the victim’s age, gender, and identity remain unknown.
“This is at the border of a couple of jurisdictions here, so we want to make sure we’re doing everything right, collecting all the evidence possible,” said Detective Sergeant Frank Didomizio.
The case spans multiple jurisdictions, necessitating coordination between various law enforcement agencies, including Yonkers Police, the NYPD, and other regional authorities. Police are actively seeking witnesses who might have seen anything suspicious around the time of the incident. They are also reviewing security footage from the area.
With no arrests yet made, the investigation remains ongoing, and the search for the truth behind this horrific act of violence continues.