High school runners discover human skeletal remains in Manhasset’s Plandome Pond Park
By Krista McNally
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LONG ISLAND, New York (WABC) — Human skeletal remains were found Thursday evening in Plandome Pond Park, prompting an investigation by Nassau County police and the closure of the community park.
The remains were discovered shortly before 6 p.m. in a wooded area below train tracks, according to Kenneth Riscica, mayor of the Village of Plandome Heights.
“It was discovered by a group of high schoolers that were running along the train tracks; the remains were in a wooded area below the train tracks,” Riscica said.
The discovery was not along one of the park’s main trails.
“The remains were found in a very remote area of the park,” Riscica said.
Diana Cotumaccio, who has lived next to Plandome Pond Park for decades, said seeing a crime scene in the neighborhood was extremely uncommon. She said she saw about half a dozen police cars enter the park on North Bourndale Road on Thursday night.
“Last night there were several cop cars along with police officers, and they indicated to me there were remains in the park. I’m here 30 years and this is a new one for me,” Cotumaccio said.
Nassau County police said there are indicators that the remains may be those of an elderly woman who was reported missing in December.
“It probably is somebody who has been missing for a year, and we need to think of this family who finally will have closure,” said North Hempstead town supervisor Jennifer DeSena.
The efforts to find the missing person police believe it may be were extensive – it included a three-to-four-day search with helicopters, marine bureau dogs, and grid searches.
Police say where that woman was last seen was about four miles from where this body was found.
This is an ongoing investigation, and police say they do not believe there’s anything suspicious about the disturbing discovery.
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