A dismembered hand found by a shocked dog walker in a wood has been traced to a woman buried nearby.
The appendage was discovered by a man walking on Staten Island, New York, US, last week leaving police puzzled.
A thorough search was launched with the New York Police Department even bringing in cadaver dogs to fully scour the woods.
A large section of the area was cordoned off and police turned away anyone trying to access the park.
Heads continued to be scratched until the city's medical examiner revealed it belonged to a 63-year-old woman who had died in 2011 and been buried in nearby Resurrection Cemetery.
The deceased woman, who has not been publicly named, had been put to rest in a wooden coffin at the Catholic burial ground a mile from where the hand was found.
It is believed the hand was dislodged around February 27 when the plot next door to the woman's was excavated for a new burial.
Officials said the equipment used likely separated the hand from the rest of the woman's remains and was lost after the excess soil was dumped nearby.
The cemetery have said they have launched their own investigation and have promised the remains will be "respectfully reinterred".
A spokesperson for the cemetery told Silive.com : “We have been informed that the remains of an individual who was buried at Resurrection Cemetery were disturbed, and some portions of those remains were discovered at some distance from the cemetery.
“While at this point we do not know what transpired, we take this matter with great seriousness and will conduct an investigation, as well as cooperate in any investigation that civil authorities might undertake.
"In the meanwhile, the remains will be respectfully reinterred as soon as possible, and we extend to the affected family our deep and prayerful regret for the sorrow that this has undoubtedly caused them.”
