Human remains found in Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) – Police are investigating after human remains were discovered in Bloomington Monday afternoon.

A worker at Duke Energy made the discovery around 2:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Rogers Street, according to police.

The Monroe County coroner and University of Indianapolis forensics anthropologists were called to the scene.

Excavation began on the site around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Bloomington police were quick to determine that this body was not Lauren Spierer’s. The Indiana University student disappeared in 2011. But they also say right now they don’t know who it is, or how it got there.

“We contacted forensic anthropologists who came in this morning and started excavating the scene, trying to bring in as much evidence as we can to figure out what happened,” said Captain Steven Kellams. “With the weather conditions and the warmer winter, we don’t know if this is something that’s been there for a couple of months, or longer than that. We just don’t know.

The city is working with forensic anthropologists from the University of Indianapolis. They say they’ll go through their own database of missing persons and others.

“We’re going to go back and look at our missing persons. While Lauren (Spierer) is the most high profile one, we still have several outstanding ones that we constantly work as well,” said Capt. Kellams.

Nearby businesses were shocked to hear the news.

“We’re here everyday and we haven’t seen any suspicious activity,” said Jessica Miller, the owner of Gallactic Merkaba.

The art studio is across the street from the search.

“I haven’t heard anything. i haven’t’ seen anything happening outside or anything like that,” said Miller.

Bloomington Police say they don’t know how long the investigation will take, but they says it does not appear to indicate foul play.

Anyone with information can contact the Bloomington Police at 812-339-4477.