A photographer found possible human remains at the D.C. General complex, D.C. police confirmed.
The photographer notified The Washington Post, which notified Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells, who told police. The remains were located Thursday morning and taken to the D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, The Post first reported.
The 40-year-old photographer told The Post he found the remains while exploring the D.C. General Hospital’s vacant autopsy suite.
In a container labeled “Babies That Have Been Autopsied,” the photographer found what looked like “a human baby with fingernails, hair, eyelashes, everything,” he told The Post.
"It may take some time to get a final ruling," D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told The Post. "It doesn't appear to ge a crime. It's very sad."
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Francis Campbell, who used to work at D.C. General, wasn't surprised by the discovery.
"I'm appalled, actually," he said. "Typically when you have a hospital or an instituition like this that has human remains, they're removed. Someone is supposed to go through and make sure those things are removed."
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He added that the city needs to improve oversight of its own vacant buildings.
The D.C. General complex is located near RFK Stadium and the D.C. Armory. The hospital closed in 2001.
Police said they are not planning to bring trespassing charges against the photographer.
