Crime & Safety

Search for Bodies Extends into Nassau County

Ocean Parkway closed Friday morning for a police investigation.

The search for clues in the deaths of four women whose decomposing bodies were found along Gilgo Beach extended into Nassau County Friday morning, as New York State Police closed down the stretch of Ocean Parkway between Robert Moses Causeway and Wantagh Parkway to search the area.

Skeletal remains were first discovered Saturday afternoon on Oak Beach and the remains of three additional bodies were discovered late Monday. The bodies were found about 500 feet apart and police say some remains could have been left at the site as recently as a month ago or as long ago as a year and a half.

After widespread speculation of a serial killer loose on Long Island, Suffolk County Police Deputy Inspector William Neubauer backtracked on that claim at an afternoon press briefing. 

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We have no idea whatsoever that we are dealing with a serial killer," Neubauer said from the former OBI bar parking lot on Ocean Parkway following the Nassau search. "I think it's important to note here that discussion regarding these persons as being victims of a murderer or being murdered is speculative at best. We don't know and will not know for weeks the manner of death."

New York State Police sent down 10 canine teams from across the state Thursday to aid Suffolk Police with the investigation.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More remains were discovered Friday, but Neubauer said the medical examiner was reasonably certain they were animal bones. He said the search was nearly complete and termed the likelihood of finding more human remains as "remote."

Neubauer said that state police canine units completed their search of the Nassau beach area at 2 p.m. Friday and New York State police confirmed that the eastbound and westbound traffic reopened around 1:30 p.m.

Police and canine units continued to search east of Oak Beach into Friday afternoon and may return Saturday morning. 

"Before we leave here we want to make sure that no stone is left uncovered and that's what we are doing right now," Neubauer said. 

The search has become a joint effort between Suffolk, Nassau and New York State police. The Long Island region of the New York State Parks Department said they are not involved with the search.

After and possible victim,, a 24-year-old New Jersey woman reported missing in May. The renewed hunt for clues and the guarded words at the press conference are a sign investigators are nowhere close to solving the deaths.  

"Anything is possible at this point," Neubauer said. "There are so many unanswered questions."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.