4 people arrested after body parts found on Long Island given supervised release

WEST BABYLON, Suffolk County (WABC) — The four people arrested in connection with human remains found scattered across Long Island are out on supervised release.

Steven Brown, 44, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, and Amanda Wallace, 40, all of 25 Railroad Ave., Amityville, along with Alexis Nieves, 33, who is homeless are all charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse.

The charges come after more body parts were discovered on Tuesday, including in Bethpage State Park last week.

There have now been human remains discovered in three different locations across Suffolk County — and police say they belong to the same man and woman.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney released a statement saying, “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. This is yet another absurd result thanks to “Bail Reform” and a system where the Legislature in Albany substitutes their judgment for the judgment of our judges and the litigants in court. We will work with the Suffolk County Police Department to resolve this investigation as soon as possible and implore our Legislature to make common sense fixes to this law.”

All four suspects are getting monitoring bracelets and have been ordered to stay in Suffolk County. They will make all court appearances in person (2 on 3/8, the other 2 on 3/11) and surrender any passports as a condition of their supervised release.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine also released a statement, outraged that the suspects were not being held: “The failure of Albany’s Bail Laws has resulted in those charged with dismembering and placing body parts in our communities to walk free without posting any bail. This is outrageous, and completely unacceptable in a civilized society, when our prosecutors are handcuffed and those charged with this heinous crime are mandated by the state to go free. Despite the incredible work by the Suffolk County Police Department and our District Attorney Ray Tierney the failed 2019 NYS Bail Laws continue to put the public at risk. These laws must be changed immediately, and I will support the law enforcement community in any efforts to force change in Albany to make Suffolk County a safer place to live.”

The suspects can’t go back to their Amityville apartment due to inoperable plumbing Some of the plumbing was removed during the police investigation.

The two victims — believed to be a 59-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man — may have lived together in Yonkers and their deaths might stem from a domestic dispute.

Those who live in the Amityville neighborhood, near those taken into custody and saw their home being raided, have questions: like did any of those gruesome crimes happen here?

“Very scary. I mean I’m not afraid, but I’m afraid for their neighbors,” Amityville resident Bill Seiman said.

Hours later, police found an additional body part in Bethpage State Park that is believed to be linked to those previously located in Southard Pond Park in Babylon. Human remains were also discovered in a wooded area in West Babylon on Tuesday.

“It’s shocking,” said one West Babylon resident about the discovery. “Very shocking.”

The remains located on Tuesday are believed to belong to the same victims from the February 29 discovery.

“It’s crazy,” said Jahron Causey, who lives across the street from the woods in West Babylon. “Someone over here just told me. I was taken back for sure.”

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner previously said a female head, right upper leg, left leg from the knee down and right arm and two male arms were found.

The grisly discoveries began Thursday morning, when a group of teenagers walking near Babylon Memorial Grade School found a severed arm on the side of the road at the edge of Southard Pond Park.

When officers arrived and searched the area, they found a second arm about 20 feet from where the first arm was found. Police say both appeared to belong to a man.

As the search expanded Thursday afternoon and into the night, a cadaver dog found a woman’s leg, arm and head on the opposite side of the park, near Babylon Elementary School.

At a Friday morning press conference, detectives said the condition of the remains suggested they had not been in the park long – maybe a few days or even hours.

Police have not publicly identified the victims pending family notifications.

The suspects are expected to appear in First District Court in Central Islip later Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Hiker found after going missing in state park

———-

* More Long Island news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.