When a years-old human skeleton was first found in a basement crawl space in Stapleton after Tropical Storm Irene last month, authorities didn't know where the bones came from. But now—just in time for Halloween!—the medical examiner has spoken, and things are looking pretty grisly. more ›

"Skeletal remains" were found in a basement crawl space of a Stapleton building yesterday, after a resident pumped out Tropical Storm Irene-induced floodwaters. Police say the squirm-inducing discovery was made yesterday afternoon at 70 Broad St, but didn't comment further on the origins or age of the bones. A medical examiner will investigate the bones further to decide whether they once belonged to a human. more ›

What would you do if a nuclear attack took place in NYC tomorrow? Would you commandeer a vehicle and head straight for the highways? Or would you be paralyzed with fear, waiting for Will Smith to rescue you? According to a new risk analysis study out of Stanford University, you'd be best off going underground, and hiding in a subterranean dwelling for a while. more ›

Two men were found shot and killed on Thursday in a Queens basement in what investigators believe was a double homicide. The victims — who were not immediately identified — were both shot multiple times in the head at around noon near the corner of 111th Avenue and 156th Street, according to NY1. Neighbors were shocked by the slayings, which took place on a block that one passerby called "quiet." "Double homicide? Ain't nothing really happen around here. I've been over here working at this church for eight years. Ain't no killings over here." more ›

Last night, a teenager who was apparently "mixing dangerous materials" in his basement created a smoke condition requiring the police to come by! Apparently the cops were at the North Babylon home for 10 hours (!) and there may have been agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The teen was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. Update: Not a meth lab, folks—the Suffolk police now say it was an "improvised explosive device." more ›

A patron of the Coney Island boardwalk bar Ruby’s got sent on a shocking detour during a trip to the men’s room over Memorial Day Weekend. It so happened that Observer reporter Chris Shott was having a beer at the bar around 5:30 Saturday when the owner abruptly pulled the plug on the jukebox and threw everyone out.

As the boozy crowd abandoned their beverages and shuffled out, a slew of firefighters, police and paramedics huddled in the back amid the eerie glow of a bright Coors Light sign near the men’s restroom… An officer in shorts and a blue polo shirt marked “Community Relations,” bluntly summed up the situation: “One guy was taking a leak, the floor partially collapsed, and he fell 10 feet.”

For the second time in as many years, the famous Stage Deli in Manhattan was shuttered by the Dept. of Health after inspections found the restaurant infested with vermin. The Times Square institution was last closed in mid-2006 after it accrued too many points during a health inspection (points are for violations and a score above 28 is a failure.) As reported in The New York Times, the DOH inspected the Stage last Wednesday and assigned it a failing score. The deli was allowed to remain open while it corrected major violations, but a subsequent inspection 48 hours later still resulted in insufficient cleanliness. more ›