Human remains were discovered last night near Southwest Baltimore Charter School in the 1300 block of Herkimer Street, casting a grim shadow over an otherwise routine afternoon in Pigtown. Officers responded at about 5:20 p.m. and located the remains in the area, police said. Detectives arrived soon after and opened an investigation into the discovery.
Investigation underway
Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner collected the remains to determine the person's identity and cause of death, and that homicide detectives are handling the inquiry, as reported by CBS Baltimore. Authorities did not immediately release additional details about the condition of the remains or whether anyone is in custody, leaving neighbors with more questions than answers for now.
Where it happened
The site is home to Southwest Baltimore Charter School, which lists its address as 1300 Herkimer Street in the Pigtown neighborhood, according to the Southwest Baltimore Charter School website. The school serves pre-K through eighth grade and is described as a longstanding neighborhood institution.
Broader context
Finds of human remains have occurred across Baltimore in recent years. For example, skeletal remains were recovered inside a vacant home on the 2200 block of East Fayette Street in April 2024, according to reporting by CBS Baltimore. In a separate case, police released a composite sketch after remains were found in the 1600 block of McKean Avenue in August 2025, as reported by WBAL-TV.
What comes next
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will complete examinations to establish identity and cause of death, and investigators say they will release more information when it is available. For now, police are keeping details close as the homicide unit and medical examiner work in tandem. This story will be updated as police and the medical examiner provide additional details.
