An unidentified person was found dead, buried under a pile of snow and leaves inside Manhattan’s Central Park on Thursday morning, turning a quiet stretch of the park into an active investigation site. Responders discovered the person in a low-visibility patch of the park, and emergency medical workers pronounced them dead at the scene. The discovery followed a heavy snowfall that left drifts and packed snow throughout the park’s hollows.
As reported by PIX11, the person was located at about 10:50 a.m. near Center Drive and 63 Traverse Road, close to the Central Park Carousel. They were unconscious when found and were later pronounced dead by medics. The NYPD told the outlet it was unclear whether the death was suspicious, and that the city’s medical examiner will determine the cause.
Where it happened
The area around Center Drive and the carousel is a popular sledding and recreation spot after storms, and packed snow plus abandoned sleds can leave unexpected drifts and blind spots in the landscape. NBC New York has documented how recent storms left “sled graveyards” across the park, creating pockets where snow accumulates unevenly.
What authorities say
The NYPD is canvassing the area and asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), per PIX11. Investigators have not released the decedent’s identity, and the case remains active while the medical examiner completes an autopsy.
Park context
While deaths in Central Park are uncommon, wintertime fatalities and discoveries in secluded spots do occur and often highlight risks for people who are vulnerable or alone. A previous Hoodline report on a similar winter death last January underscores those concerns…