Body of evidence
Cops seek to dig for a corpse in B’klyn backyard
A MURDER victim may be buried in the backyard of an unassuming two-story home in Brooklyn, police sources said Tuesday.
NYPD cops were awaiting a search warrant to begin excavating a section of the yard on Bradford St. near New Lots Ave. in East New York, the Daily News has learned.
Police suspect a body may have been buried there some years ago — possibly the victim of foul play.
NYPD cadaver dogs brought in to sniff the area picked up something suspicious in a corner of the backyard on Monday, police sources said.
As of Tuesday night, all the prep work for excavation was done, but no shovels had gone into the ground yet. Cops must get court approval to start digging, police said.
The makeshift grave is believed to be next to a tree, where some brickwork started to sink into the ground, according to the building landlord, who did not want to be named.
Cops began their investigation Monday when the FBI relayed a tip from an informant claiming to have knowledge of a former resident of the house burying a body in the backyard years ago.
The corpse could have been buried there for many years — possibly before 2012, police sources said. A new landlord took over the building that year, according to sources.
The potential discovery stunned some residents, even as others seemed to take the gruesome find in stride.
“Hey, I wouldn’t be shocked, man. That’s East New York,” said Henry Rush, 50, who has been living with his two children on the second floor of the home for several weeks.
“It’s Brooklyn; everybody should be used to that by now,” he said. “That wouldn't shock me at all to know it was going on.”
Patricia Owens, 59, spotted detectives with dogs on Monday scouring the property.
“I saw gentlemen in suits, so I figured they was detectives. Then I saw a guy getting out with a dog, and he was sniffing (the area),” Owens said.
Resident Rita Fraser, 39, was incredulous.
“Why am I living here?” she asked, frustrated. “I knew it got to be somebody wanted, or something like that.”
Two police officers remained stationed outside the home late Tuesday. A unit from the medical examiner’s office was on standby waiting for the search to begin.