BABYLON, N.Y. (AP) — Four individuals were accused on Wednesday of hiding a human corpse and tampering with evidence in connection to the discovery of body parts in parks on Long Island.
The accused individuals — Amanda Wallace, 40, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, Steven Brown, 44, all from Amityville, and Alexis Nieves, 33, who is reportedly homeless — have not been charged with the murders of the victims, identified as a 53-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman. All four defendants pleaded not guilty to hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing a human corpse and were released without bail.
According to authorities, a young girl on her way to school last Thursday discovered a severed arm on the side of the road at Southards Pond Park in Babylon, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of New York City. Subsequently, police found another arm and a leg, all belonging to the 53-year-old man, as stated by the police.
The following day, a cadaver dog located the head, an arm, and parts of two legs, which were determined to be from the 59-year-old woman, the police mentioned.
Additional remains discovered on Tuesday in nearby West Babylon and in a state park were identified as belonging to the same two individuals, according to the police. The names of the victims have not been disclosed.
The four defendants were apprehended after a search warrant was executed at the Amityville residence shared by Wallace, Mackey, and Brown.
Newsday reported that during separate arraignments in Suffolk County District Court on Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder stated that authorities possess substantial evidence against the four, including meat cleavers, butcher knives, blood, and video surveillance. However, he did not specify the locations where the weapons and blood were discovered.
Mackey’s defense lawyer, John Halvorson, mentioned, “We are prepared to challenge these accusations.”
Brown’s attorney, Ira Weissman, affirmed, “Steven Brown is not guilty of murder.” Weissman refrained from commenting on the specific charges Brown is facing, as he has not reviewed the evidence.
Requests for comments were made to the attorneys representing Wallace and Nieves.
The Associated Press
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