Skull unearthed in Brick Township

The discovery of a human skull draws a swarm of investigators to Brick Township this morning.

Local police, along with Ocean County and state investigators, have closed off a portion of the township's Lake Riviera section surrounding a patch of woods where the grisly find occurred.

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Al Della Fave said that two township men came across the remains while driving past the area around 3 PM on Tuesday, March 22, and reported it to police. He added that it might have been in place for a considerable length of time.

After receiving the report, medical examiners began trying to establish an identity and a time frame while law enforcement officials began researching missing-person files for possible leads.

"Bone fragment finds are not unusual," Della Fave said. "Most often, they are animal remains. We needed to establish whether it was animal or human before proceeding."

"It should be pointed out that this case in no way involves a safety threat to people who live in the area," Della Fave said.

Olt Toms River Road and Arizona Drive, between Beaverson Boulevard and Emerald Drive, are temporarily sealed from through traffic. The site is a proximal distance from Lake Riviera Middle School, though the investigation doesn't extend to the grounds.

Anyone who can provide investigators with information that can advance the probe should call Brick PD, 732-262-1143; or the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, 732-929-2027.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details as they surface.