Long Island body parts found: What we know so far about the investigation
LONG ISLAND - Four people were arrested Wednesday, arraigned and released without bail in connection to the dismembered body parts found last week on Long Island.
Two women and two men – identified as Steven Brown, 44, of Amityville, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, of Amityville, Amanda Wallace, 40, of Amityville, and Alexis Nieves, 33, who is homeless – were all charged with hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and concealing a human corpse. All four were arraigned and released, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
Here's everything we know about the investigation, from the first remains discovered last week in Babylon and Bethpage, to the arrests of four people and what we know about the victims.
Who are the victims?
The brother and sister of the 53-year-old victim attended a March 11 court appearance. They said defendant Steven Brown is their cousin and their younger brother, Malcolm Craig Brown, was the male victim, FOX 5 NY's Jodi Goldberg reported.
Police also released the identity of the female victim: 59-year-old Donna R. Conneely.
Investigators said they shared an address in Yonkers.
Feb. 29: Human remains found on road (Afternoon)
Last Thursday afternoon, a group of Long Island high school students found a left arm on the side of a Babylon road on their way to school, police said.
The arm was discovered just before 9 a.m. on Siegel Boulevard.
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Human remains found on Long Island road; arms, leg discovered
The arm was discovered on Thursday just before 9 a.m. on Siegel Boulevard in Babylon during the student's walk to school.
According to police, as officers investigated the crime scene, a canine unit located a leg sticking out of a pile of leaves in a wooded area, not far from the original scene.
Feb. 29: More human remains found (Evening)
During the Thursday evening hours, Suffolk County detectives said they found what appeared to be a woman's head, leg and arm in the same park where the male human remains were discovered.
The body parts likely belong to the same woman, Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer said during a Friday press conference.
The medical examiner's autopsy is ongoing.
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Long Island officials spar with NY Gov. Hochul over bail reform after body parts suspects released
Long Island officials are calling for a change in New York's bail laws after they say they were forced to release suspects in the dismembered body parts case.
The police department was treating the investigation as a homicide.
March 6: Four arrested, released without bail
On Wednesday, police arrested a group of four in connection to the investigation. They were arraigned and released without bail, officials said.
Two women and two men were charged with hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and concealing a human corpse. They are: Steven Brown, 44, of Amityville, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, of Amityville, Amanda Wallace, 40, of Amityville, and Alexis Nieves, 33, who is homeless.
Amityville, N.Y.: Suffolk County Police Crime Scene investigators outside of a home on Railroad Avenue in Amityville, New York on March 5, 2024, in connection to body parts that had been discovered at Southards Pond Park in Babylon, Bethpage State Pa
"It is our understanding that the Suffolk County Police Department is still investigating these murders. Unfortunately, due to ‘Bail Reform’ passed by the New York State Legislature in 2019, charges relating to the mutilation and disposal of murdered corpses are no longer bail-eligible, meaning my prosecutors cannot ask for bail," Tierney's statement read.
According to officials, those charged were forced to surrender their passports and wear monitoring devices. They are unable to leave the country.
Search warrant executed in Amityville
Suffolk County officials said a search warrant was executed on Railroad Ave in Amityville on Monday, the same address listed for Brown, Mackey and Wallace.
Investigators found meat cleavers, butcher knives and blood in the apartment.