A gruesome discovery on a Harlem sidewalk has stunned residents and raised fresh concerns about public safety in the neighborhood. Police confirmed that a woman’s body was found sealed inside a plastic bag early Tuesday morning near Park Avenue and East 124th Street in Manhattan.
According to the NYPD, sanitation workers made the discovery around 6:15 a.m. while performing their morning route. The body was found wrapped tightly in black plastic and placed near a garbage pile. Detectives from the Manhattan North Homicide Squad were called to the scene, and the area was cordoned off for several hours as forensic teams collected evidence.
Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity pending notification of family members. Preliminary observations suggest the woman may have been deceased for several days before being abandoned at the location. The city’s Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
Nearby residents expressed shock and fear following the incident. “This isn’t something you ever expect to see on your block,” said one Harlem local. “It makes you wonder what’s happening around here at night.”
Police have requested surveillance footage from nearby buildings and are interviewing witnesses in the area. Officials noted that there is no immediate threat to the public, though they described the case as “deeply disturbing” and “a high priority.”
Community leaders are calling for increased police patrols and lighting along Park Avenue, a corridor that has seen several violent crimes over the past year. Advocacy groups also urged city officials to address the underlying social and mental health issues that can lead to such tragedies.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
