Cleanup crews found human remains at a second downtown Portland homeless camp on Oct. 19, six days after a similar discovery about a mile away near the waterfront.

The Portland Police Bureau said detectives believe the two finds may be connected and could involve one deceased person.

Confirmation is pending a full examination by the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office.

Officers responded around 12:40 p.m. Oct. 19 to the area of West Burnside Street and Interstate 405 after a crew contracted to clean up homeless encampments discovered the remains, according to a PPB news release.

The bureau's Homicide Unit took over the scene.

The first discovery came Oct. 13 near Harvey Milk Street and Naito Parkway.

A city-contracted cleanup company, Rapid Response Bio-Clean, had cleared the encampment Oct. 12 and returned the next morning to collect additional items, PPB spokesperson Mike Benner told The Oregonian.

The crew found what appeared to be human remains around 9:15 a.m. The Oregonian reported those remains were found in a garbage bag.

Police have not released the identity of the deceased, the cause or manner of death, or how long the remains may have been at either site.

Benner said after the first discovery that the situation was "incredibly troubling" to detectives but that police had no indication at the time of anyone committing violent acts across the city.

A PPB spokesperson told KPTV the remains could stem from several scenarios, including natural causes or an overdose.

Sarah Hefte, owner of Everyday Music, told KOIN her store sits within feet of the West Burnside encampment. She said the volume of police vehicles signaled something beyond a routine call.

"It's pretty gruesome … It's right outside my window," Hefte told KOIN.

Down the street, Clark Von Trotha, a system designer at Encore Audio Video, told KOIN the discovery left him feeling shocked but not surprised. Von Trotha said the area has seen increased fentanyl use in recent months.

The West Burnside camp sits behind wire fencing and red crime tape. Hefte told KOIN she has called for camp cleanups at the location "for years and years since COVID."

PPB is asking anyone with information to email [email protected]. Tips about the Oct. 19 discovery should reference case No. 26-304859. Information about the Oct. 13 find should reference case No. 26-298767.