EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — A quiet stretch of woods near the intersection of Tilton Road and Delilah Road became the center of a major investigation after human skeletal remains were discovered at dawn on July 30, 2026, authorities confirmed.

According to the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, a local resident walking through the wooded area spotted what appeared to be part of a human skeleton and immediately contacted police. Responding officers secured the scene and notified the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, which is now leading the investigation.

Officials say the remains appear to have been in the area for an extended period of time. Detectives, crime‑scene investigators, and a forensic anthropology team conducted a detailed search of the surrounding woods throughout the day, collecting additional bone fragments and personal items found nearby.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that determining the person’s identity is a top priority. Investigators are reviewing missing‑person cases from Atlantic County and surrounding regions while awaiting forensic testing results, including DNA analysis, dental comparisons, and anthropological examination to estimate age, sex, and time since death.

Authorities have not yet indicated whether foul play is suspected. The area where the remains were found is a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and dense patches of forest — a location investigators say has seen occasional searches related to missing‑person reports over the years.

Police are urging anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit or the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.

This is a developing story.

Egg Harbor Township Police Department