Queens school chimney discovery reveals remains of missing man

The remains of 29-year-old Matthew Collado were discovered inside a school chimney in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, New York. The discovery was made on June 30, 2026, by a pest control worker who had been called to a public school to investigate a strong odor of decay.

Collado had been missing since the early morning of May 9, 2026, after being captured on surveillance footage leaving his home around 3:00 a.m. His mother, Sophia Wood, reported him missing three days later after he failed to contact her for a scheduled meeting on Mother's Day.

Investigators identified the remains through dental records approximately one month after the discovery. While the find has provided closure regarding his whereabouts, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the cause of death remain unknown.