Parts of human remains discovered in Ladywell, Lewisham earlier this month are currently undergoing forensic examination, police have confirmed, with the identification process expected to take some time. The Metropolitan Police were alerted to the found remains on Saturday, 12 April, after human jaw and arm fragments were uncovered on Church Grove.
The discovery came to light around 2pm when officers responded to reports of unearthed human remains in a garden area. The area is located just a short five-minute walk from St Mary's Primary School on Lewisham High Street. According to a local source, members of the Church Grove community project were working on constructing a play area when the jawbone was accidentally spotted falling out from a bag of gravel.
A police spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police stated: "On Saturday, April 12 police were called at 2.08pm to Church Grove, SE13 following reports that human remains had been unearthed in a garden." They added, "There have been no arrests at this stage and officers are working to establish an identity, although the remains are thought to be non-recent."
The presence of the bones in a residential neighbourhood has left local residents feeling unsettled. One local told The Sun, “You see this stuff on the news, but it was right outside our front door. It's so much more immediate, you just never think something like this will happen so close to you.” They described community alarm and concern over children playing nearby, saying, “Tiny kids were playing right next to literal bits of human arm. I’ve literally just had a baby, it’s absolutely terrifying, we moved her to be safe we just don't know what to do.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that an investigation has been launched and that enquiries into the matter are ongoing as they seek to determine the circumstances behind the remains being located in the area. There have been no reports of any arrests linked to the case as the forensic process continues.
Source: Noah Wire Services