COLUMBUS, Ohio − Authorities are looking into an unusual discovery made in the backyard of a Columbus woman’s house after her TikTok videos gained massive popularity.

“It could be anything,” said Jennifer Watson, spokeswoman for the Columbus Division of Police, on Friday.

Katie Santry was digging holes for a fence in her backyard when she found what seemed to be a buried rug, as she explained in a TikTok video posted earlier this week. She humorously speculated that her house might be haunted, sharing that her laptop had malfunctioned and some items were out of place.

Her original video has attracted over 3 million views, and her entire series of more than 20 clips related to the rug mystery has received over 100 million views.

On Friday morning, the investigation was ongoing, with a noticeable presence of police and media at the cul-de-sac in front of Santry’s home. Groups of curious neighbors and onlookers gathered in the area, filming and discussing the unfolding situation.

Vehicles slowed down as they passed, with many drivers capturing pictures and videos from their windows.

Police involvement in Columbus

Following the viral success of her videos, several TikTok users urged Santry to reach out to the police, leading to a visit from the Columbus police on Thursday.

Santry live-streamed the police investigation on TikTok, showcasing moments when two cadaver dogs indicated a section of the yard by sitting down. This behavior often suggests that they have detected human remains. At least 100,000 viewers tuned into the livestream.

“I’m really just hoping someone had a bloody nose on that rug and buried it,” she quipped in her caption.

Watson stated that the dogs could be reacting to various substances.

“It could be body oil,” Watson noted. “It could be sweat, or perhaps a small amount of blood, like a cut or something minor. Right now, we still don’t know precisely what we’re dealing with.”

Background on the previous owners

The Columbus Dispatch reached out to the former owner of the house, a 95-year-old resident of Ohio, who mentioned that police contacted his family on Thursday. He speculated that he and his wife might have unknowingly buried a burlap bag while gardening.

He expressed confusion about the situation and said it has been distressing for his wife.

“The police called us yesterday, and they also asked some questions,” he shared. “They spoke to my son as well. None of us recall anything about having buried anything.”

He added, “I just hope that if there’s something valuable there that they find it.”

Purpose of the police investigation

Watson indicated that investigators began digging at the property on Friday. The police maintained their presence overnight and resumed their work in the morning, needing daylight to continue their examination.

“We’re taking this matter very seriously,” Watson emphasized. “We cannot overlook anything in situations like this, so we aim to thoroughly investigate.”

This article has been updated with more information and to modify an embedded video. Updates will continue as the story develops.