Human Remains Found at Mississippi Park, Rattling Locals: 'First Time We’ve Ever Had an Incident Like This'
The Southaven Police Department said they received a call Sunday about the remains, which were found in Central Park
Police in Southaven, Miss., say human remains were found in Central Park on Sunday
The discovery has some locals anxious as they await answers from authorities
Authorities did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment
An investigation is underway in a Mississippi city after human remains were found at a local park over the weekend.
The Southaven Police Department said in a release on Facebook that it received a call Sunday “about possible human remains” in Central Park and went out to investigate.
Upon arrival, responding officers “were able to determine that the remains were human.”
The remains were found in a drainage ditch, CBS affiliate WREG reported, citing sources.
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“This is the first time we’ve ever had an incident like this,” said Kim McNeil, who has lived in Southaven for 20 years, per WREG.
The SPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Several questions remain unanswered, including how long the remains were at the park, how they got there, and what condition they were in when they were found.
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“It’s unsettling to know that remains were here where I walk,” said nearby resident Debbie Yarberry, per FOX affiliate WHBQ.
Central Park was temporarily closed while authorities investigated, but has since reopened, the SPD said.
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Witnesses claimed police were focused on an area of the park where a disc golf course is located, according to WHBQ.
Meagan Chastant-Qualls, who works nearby, said many people are anxious to know more about why the remains were there, according to WREG.
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“We’d love to know if this was something that happened in our backyard or if it was [the] aftermath of something that happened farther away,” Chastant-Qualls explained.
The remains have since been collected by the Desoto County Coroner and “will be sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab for further testing,” according to the SPD.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact local police at 662-393-8652 or email tips@southaven.org.
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