A diving team recently unearthed a body from a car submerged underwater on a Long Island beach.
Dan Pritchard and his diving companion, Bill McIntosh, who travel globally to help find missing persons, discovered remains inside a Chrysler PT Cruiser at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai on Monday. This has initiated an investigation by Suffolk County police.
The duo suspects the body might belong to Robert Long, a Long Island resident who went missing in December 2010 at age 62. He disappeared on his way to a local liquor store while driving a vehicle matching this description.
“Identifying the vehicle you’re looking for is a huge relief,” Pritchard mentioned during an interview with local radio. “It’s gratifying to know we can provide closure to families.”
Utilizing a kayak fitted with side-scan sonar technology, they navigated the waters. McIntosh noted that they had specific sites to check as part of their search.
After several hours, they stumbled upon what seemed to be human bones in the vehicle, prompting an immediate call to the police. Authorities later verified that human remains were found and used a crane to lift the car out of the water.
According to Suffolk police, “This morning, Marine Bureau divers began searching at low tide. They examined the vehicle and attempted to recover as much as possible from inside.”
The identity of the body remains unconfirmed, with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner set to perform an autopsy to establish both the identity and cause of death.
“We have not established a suspect for the driver,” said Detective Kevin Baylor on Tuesday. “We’ve informed the families but haven’t made any identification.”
Pritchard and McIntosh have plans to continue searching waterways all along the East Coast in the coming months for submerged vehicles. They believe their efforts could possibly lead to finding the remains of about 50 missing individuals.
This recent discovery at Cedar Beach marks the third vehicle they’ve recovered during this outing and the 16th since they began their efforts in 2020. McIntosh shared, “When you find someone, you can bring them home, providing closure to many families. We offer them hope.”
