A Long Island man named Gary Cowell, aged 72, from Patchogue, has been indicted for dismembering the body of a 56-year-old woman from Patchogue and spreading the remains across three locations in Patchogue. The Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney made the announcement on Monday, stating that Cowell was indicted for unlawful concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence related to the alleged dismemberment of the deceased individual.
District Attorney Tierney praised the Suffolk County Police detectives for swiftly locating the victim’s remains and assured the victim’s family and the public that justice will be pursued through the legal process. The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of death.
Law enforcement was alerted on June 18, 2024, that the woman was missing and had not been seen since June 13, 2024. Cowell, who was allegedly the last person to see the woman alive, was interviewed by detectives. Subsequently, detectives accompanied Cowell to his residence in Patchogue where the dismembered remains were located. An axe believed to have been used in the dismemberment and other evidence were recovered from Cowell’s residence.
Cowell is currently being held on a $1 million cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 25, 2024.
In a similar incident, a Milwaukee man was recently charged in killing and dismembering a missing 19-year-old woman. These cases highlight the disturbing trend of individuals resorting to such heinous acts of violence.
The discovery of several body parts in Long Island, New York, has raised concerns and speculation about possible connections to previous unsolved murders in the area, such as the Gilgo Beach murders. Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to investigate and solve these cases to bring justice to the victims and closure to their families.
It is crucial for communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement to prevent such tragedies from occurring. The legal system will continue to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and ensure that justice is served.
