Human Hand on Bladensburg Road?

An odd message greeted me when I finally checked my email again. I have no other information, but here's the email:

Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Subject: Human remains found at 1058-1062 Bladensburg Rd NE?
To: mpd-5d
Cc: "Groomes, Diane (MPD)"


CO Greene,

I just received a call from my partner at the diner, who was talking with a representative for the Hyacinth Place project at 1058-1062 Bladensburg Road NE. The project's representative, in casual conversation, mentioned that they discovered what appeared to be remains from a human hand while digging footers for their foundation recently.

According to this representative, they stopped construction and called Metropolitan Police upon finding the bones and a handgun with them. He alleged that responding MPD officers did not thoroughly investigate the finding, writing the remains off as animal bones even though the
"hand" was found buried with a partially-deteriorated handgun. According to him, no excavation occurred to attempt to locate other parts of the remains even though the "hand" was near the edge of the excavated hole. This account is consistent with street rumors that have been circulating recently, but this is the only first-hand information I've heard of.

Can you provide additional information and/or clarification on MPD's response to this? What steps were taken to determine if the remains were human or not? Was the handgun (with a partially-deteriorated wooden handle) recovered by MPD? Was a report taken?

While I don't have further information or a specific date for this find, it was likely within the past couple months, as I recall that being the time they excavated initially for footer construction.

Thanks,

Matt

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UPDATE

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I don't have a copy, but MPD reportedly sent an off list email saying the bones were confirmed as animal bones. It isn't uncommon at all for animal bones to be mistaken for human bones. This was the outcome I expected in this instance. It was just that I couldn't resist posting the email. Also, at least we get to kill that urban legend early on. 

Bones from a bear's paws, for instance, are commonly mistaken for the bones of a human hand.  I'm glad MPD is checking this stuff. If we start confusing chicken bones for human bones we'll have a lot of talk of serial killers out there.