Human remains found on Nantucket

Nantucket police are investigating after human remains were discovered in a wooded area near the east end of Nantucket on Thursday.

According to the Nantucket Police Department, two men were searching for deer antler sheds around 5 p.m. when they came across the remains. The men called the police, and officers arrived to find the remains in a dense woodland area off Milestone Road near Philips Run swamp in Tom Nevers.

State and local police secured the area before collecting and processing evidence. Investigators removed the remains and transferred them to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The Nantucket Current reported that the human remains included bones and a skull.

Seasonal resident Peter McHugh told the Current that he has been coming to the island for 20 years and was searching for antler sheds in the swampy area.

“It was surreal. I kept questioning myself about what I was looking at,” McHugh told the outlet. “I looked closer and it looked much like what you would think a human skull would look like and I realized that must be what it is.” 

Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar told the Current that investigators are confident they’ll be able to identify the human remains and that they’re not ruling out foul play.

The cause of death is unknown, and the case remains under investigation.  

Morgan Rousseau

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.

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