New Orleans police solve case of mysterious Christmas tree

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Police in New Orleans have discovered the cause of what appeared to be a lit Christmas tree seen in the window of an abandoned hospital.

Louisiana State University Police discovered 2x4's wrapped in lights in the university's abandoned Charity Hospital after nearby workers posted photos claiming to see a lit Christmas tree in one of the building's windows.

Lisa Walley Staggs, who works across the street from the building posted photos of the tree to Facebook.

"Tonight as I was leaving work, I glanced over at the forgotten building only to see the lights of a tiny Christmas tree!" she wrote on Sunday. "I don't know how it's lit. I don't know how it's even in there, but it made me smile just a little bit tonight!"

It's still unclear who placed the wooden boards and lights in the abandoned building but LSU Health Sciences Center Director of Information Leslie Capo said that police are continuing to investigate.

"We are treating it as a break-in," she told WWL-TV.

The hospital has been closed since Hurricane Katrina hit the area in 2005.