Human skeletal remains found in Chelmsford area of Greater Sudbury, police say

A gruesome discovery was made in a remote wooded area of Greater Sudbury on Sunday night, Sudbury police say.

Officers were called Marion Street in the Chelmsford area around 5:30 p.m. Sunday after a community member "located what was believed to be human skeletal remains," Sudbury police said in a news release Monday.

Police confirmed the remains found are human.

"It’s skeletal remains, which would mean bones. So it would likely mean that they have been there for a prolonged period of time. The exact amount of time is yet to be determined," police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an interview.

As it is early in the investigation, there are a lot of unknowns.

"The identity of the deceased, the length of time the remains have been in the wooded area and the circumstances of the death have yet to be determined," police said.

"Over the next few days, there will be an increased police presence in the general area while the scene is being examined and officers conduct a ground search."

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Officers were seen Monday morning on ATVs along a remote muddy trail off Marion Street.

Police said a grid search is being done in the woods and it could be some time before the remains are identified.

Sudbury detectives from the major crime section will be working on the case with the coroner's office and Centre of Forensic Science.

"We ask that the public remain away from the wooded area West of Marion Street until we have completed our investigation in the area," police said.

"An update will be provided once officers are clear of the scene."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 705-675-9171 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.

With files from Sudbury videojournalist Alana Everson.