N.Y.C. Man Discovers Human Remains While Gardening in His Yard: ‘Bone Fragments Were Left Behind’

• A man discovered human remains at the “rear” of his home in Queens, N.Y., on Thursday, May 1
• A spokesperson for the NYPD told PEOPLE that the remains are from a human cremation and that “bone fragments were left behind”
• Authorities said an investigation into the situation is still ongoing

A man made a startling discovery while gardening at his home.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department (NYPD)’s Public Information Office confirmed to PEOPLE that officers responded to a 911 call from a 33-year-old man regarding the discovery of “human remains” at a residence in Whitestone, a neighborhood in Queens. The call came at about 8:25 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 1.

The spokesperson said officers “observed possible ashes” and dentures located at the “rear” of the residence.  

They further told PEOPLE that the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and an anthropologist have since confirmed that the remains “were from a human cremation and that bone fragments were left behind.”

The investigation is still ongoing, according to the NYPD.

Both The New York Post and The New York Daily News reported that the man who made the discovery was gardening at the time the remains were found.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While there are no state regulations in New York regarding the burial of human remains on private property, there are local regulations in many areas, per the New York Department of State.

In New York City, specifically, one must have permission from the property owner to bury the remains and also attain a permit, according to the legal information site Nolo.