When homeowner Pedro Lopez went to investigate, he found the remains lodged inside.
Police had to cut a hole in the chimney to get the remains out.
"They started bringing out the bones," said neighbor Giovanna Villegas. "We were kind of able to see the skull."
It appears the remains are those of a male in his 40s.
The question now is, who was the man, and why he was in the chimney? The investigation continues, but police believe that foul play is not involved, and the victim may have just gotten stuck while trying to climb down the chimney.
The house had been vacant for three years before the homeowner bought the property.
Neighbor Ed McNair said the owner died three years ago. McNair said he agrees with police that the man was not murdered.
"Someone trying to break in the house would be my assumption, and going down through the roof," he said.
Police believe the remains have been there for anywhere from 6 months to two years.
The best description police have of the victim is that he was less than 50 years old and about 5 feet 8 inches. There was no identification near the bones.
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