East Lyme — State and local police spent much of Monday investigating on scene after someone found a partial human skull near where Sleepy Hollow Road turns into Van Winkle Way early Monday morning.

Van Winkle Way begins at the entrance of Sleepy Hollow Hills, a private, 55+ adult living community located just beyond Stone Cliff Drive.

According to police, the partial skull was located at 6:51 a.m. A deeper search into the woods revealed more skeletal remains, police said.

Officers and troopers from East Lyme and Troop E, as well as members of the Eastern District Major Crime Squad and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, responded to the scene. At least one K-9 unit was being put to use in the quiet, wooded neighborhood.

The medical examiner's office currently is working to determine cause of death and is attempting to use dental records to determination identity, police said.

State police, who said the investigation is ongoing, are asking anyone with information to call them at (860) 848-6500 or to text the information, along with "TIP711," to 274637. Calls and texts are confidential.

Gisele Styren, who lives on Sleepy Hollow Road just before the entrance to Sleepy Hollow Hills, said on Monday afternoon that she first learned something unusual was afoot when she came down to get mail Monday morning.

"I saw cop cars, which I never see," Styren said, emphasizing the word "never."

She said she eventually learned of the discovery of human remains from someone who lives up the road.

People sometimes park their cars in the cul-de-sac located just before the private property begins, Styren said — and she's had to ask police to check on suspicious behavior there in the past — but it would be "quite a surprise" to her if what was found actually ends up being human remains.

"It's a little unnerving," said Styren, who has lived at her home since 2005. "It's disturbing to find out that a possible murder or whatever else went on — if it is indeed human remains."

l.boyle@theday.com