Search For L.I. Serial Killer Victims To Expand To Nassau County
OAK BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The intense search for bodies along the Suffolk County's South Shore was winding down Thursday.
Nassau County and state police said they will pick up the trail next week, moving west to Jones Beach, reports CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.
After four months of searching and the discovery of eight bodies, Suffolk County police announced that they're scaling back their investigation, satisfied that they've picked through every thorn and bramble across 7.5 miles of Ocean Parkway.
Authorities say they'll continue searching missing NJ prostitute Shannan Gilbert
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Still, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said their investigation will continue, full steam ahead, until the gruesome case is solved and the killer is caught.
Dormer also said his investigators will continue to probe any possible link between the bodies found on Long Island and the four Atlantic City prostitutes found dead in 2006.
"Homicide squad is in contact with Atlantic City PD; they have been in contact with them before," Dormer said. "That is certainly part of the investigation."
Nassau Police said they will now extend west across the county border, beginning at Tobay Beach, with officers on horseback.
"We are planning to use our mounted unit to walk through those paths, get a little bit of a higher view, and that will be supported by K-9 cadaver dogs and other officers on foot," Nassau County Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said.
A pair of tourists from Las Vegas, Richard and Carol Kerner, visited the notorious, sandy graveyard Thursday.
"Absolutely horrible. You look at what happened in Japan with Mother Nature, and these bodies washing up – here it's being done by a person," Carol said.
"It's a big mystery," Richard said.
The remains of just four of the bodies have been identified.
In Ellenville, the mother of missing Craigslist prostitute Shannan Gilbert said she's still waiting.
"I believe the police, at first, dismissed her," Mari Gilbert said. "If we weren't always on the phone, they may not have searched at all."
Suffolk County police said they are partnering with the FBI and law enforcement agencies around the country, and hoped to soon identify the remains of the latest four bodies.
State police already searched for bodies in Nassau County last year and found nothing. Investigators said they expected to continue that search starting on Monday.
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