Police: Human bones found under tarp in Tioga

TIOGA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating after human bones were found underneath a tarp in the city's Tioga section.

Investigators say 39th District bike patrol officers made the discovery around 6:50 p.m. Tuesday in the 3000 block of N. 17th Street.

The officers spotted the bones partially covered by a blue tarp.

The medical examiner was called and confirmed the remains were human.

While investigators have not been able to estimate a time frame for the person's death, police said there are some indications that they had been there for more than a year.

The gender of the remains could also not be immediately determined, but there are indications they are that of a woman.

Along with the bones, police found a smartphone, a woman's size five Nike sneaker, and clothing including a skirt and what's

believed to be a headscarf.

"If you look at her clothes, it had to have been in the wintertime because her clothes look heavy," said Tracee Alston, a resident who was watching as police worked on Wednesday afternoon. "That looks sad," she said. "That's somebody's child."

The remains have been turned over to the medical examiner who will work to determine the person's identity and cause of death.