Student walking to school finds severed arm in New York, death investigation begins

A group of Long Island students found human remains while walking to school on Thursday morning and now police are trying to pinpoint who they belong to and how they got there.

The students were walking around 8:40 a.m. Thursday in Southards Pond Park in Babylon Village when they made the discovery, said police in a news release.

One of the students noticed an arm on the side of the road at 8:40 a.m., police said. The student called her father, who came to the scene and called the police.

Once police arrived, they began sectioning off the crime scene. The initial remains were found on the east side of the park. Later, police began searching the west side and had dogs going through the area, Det. Kevin Beyrer of the Suffolk County Police Department’s homicide squad at a press conference on Thursday.

“On the west side of Southards Pond Park where we are now, a K9 cadaver dog and his handler found another set of remains,” he said. “Those are under pretty heavy leaves and branches. We are clearing that now. We know we have at least a leg under those leaves and branches.”

Right arm, left arm, leg discovered

In total, police and cadaver dogs have found a right arm, a left arm and a leg, Beyrer said Thursday.

Authorities said in a news release that the remains likely belong to a male.

“The right arm was found about 20 feet further into the woods from … the left arm, almost in a direct line,” he said. “No identification has been made.”

A spokesperson for Babylon School District told USA TODAY Friday morning that Superintendent of Schools Carisa Manza emailed parents to let them know recess would be held indoors.

Manza said mental health staff would be available on site, as well as a security team.

Police ask that anyone with information contact the homicide squad at (631) 852-6392 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. 

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.