BABYLON, NY - In a shocking turn of events, four individuals linked to the discovery of severed body parts across Long Island have been released without bail, sparking concern among law enforcement and the community.
The disturbing investigation began when a student found a severed arm in Southards Pond Park in Babylon, belonging to a 53-year-old man. More body parts, including those of a 59-year-old woman, were found in the park and other locations, intensifying the search for answers.
Charged with concealing a human corpse and tampering with evidence, Steven Brown (44), Jeffrey Mackey (38), Amanda Wallace (40), and Alexis Nieves (33), faced accusations of dismembering the bodies in an Amityville home on Railroad Avenue. The house became uninhabitable as investigators combed through plumbing for crucial evidence.
Despite the serious charges, the suspects were unexpectedly released without bail due to the "Bail Reform" enacted by the New York State Legislature in 2019. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney expressed his disappointment, highlighting the need for legislative adjustments.
“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,” read a statement released by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “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.”
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner identified the 59-year-old woman, bringing some closure to her family. However, the identity of the 53-year-old man remains tentatively established, leaving questions for investigators and the public. Murder charges have not been officially filed, but sources suggest they might be added after a grand jury presentation.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine expressed his dismay. “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,” a statement from Romaine read.
Defense attorneys for the accused strongly asserted their clients' innocence. John Halvorson, representing Mackey, declared, "We are entering a plea of not guilty."
At the same time, Ira Weissman, defending Brown, unequivocally stated that defense attorneys for the accused strongly asserted their clients' innocence. Weissman said that the 44-year-old “didn’t kill anybody.”
John Halvorson, representing Mackey, declared, “We are entering a plea of not guilty. We have not received any discovery at this point. We maintain our innocence.”
The disturbing investigation began when a student found a severed arm in Southards Pond Park in Babylon, belonging to a 53-year-old man. More body parts, including those of a 59-year-old woman, were found in the park and other locations, intensifying the search for answers.
Charged with concealing a human corpse and tampering with evidence, Steven Brown (44), Jeffrey Mackey (38), Amanda Wallace (40), and Alexis Nieves (33), faced accusations of dismembering the bodies in an Amityville home on Railroad Avenue. The house became uninhabitable as investigators combed through plumbing for crucial evidence.
Despite the serious charges, the suspects were unexpectedly released without bail due to the "Bail Reform" enacted by the New York State Legislature in 2019. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney expressed his disappointment, highlighting the need for legislative adjustments.
“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,” read a statement released by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “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.”
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner identified the 59-year-old woman, bringing some closure to her family. However, the identity of the 53-year-old man remains tentatively established, leaving questions for investigators and the public. Murder charges have not been officially filed, but sources suggest they might be added after a grand jury presentation.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine expressed his dismay. “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,” a statement from Romaine read.
Defense attorneys for the accused strongly asserted their clients' innocence. John Halvorson, representing Mackey, declared, "We are entering a plea of not guilty."
At the same time, Ira Weissman, defending Brown, unequivocally stated that defense attorneys for the accused strongly asserted their clients' innocence. Weissman said that the 44-year-old “didn’t kill anybody.”
John Halvorson, representing Mackey, declared, “We are entering a plea of not guilty. We have not received any discovery at this point. We maintain our innocence.”
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