Was Reported Missing Since 2010
By Hank Russell
Suffolk County police have identified the person who was found submerged in a vehicle last month.
Robert Long, 62, of Miller Place, was reported missing on December 21, 2010. USA Today reported that, according to Explorers with a Mission and Adventures with Purpose — two nonprofit groups that assist with locating missing people — Long went to the wine store that day. “He did make it to the store and bought a bottle of liquor, but never returned home and has never been heard from again,” both organizations posted on their social media pages, as reported by the outlet.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, representatives from Explorers with a Mission and Adventures with Purpose used side-scan sonar devices near the Cedar Beach boat ramp in Mount Sinai and located a PT Cruiser submerged in the water on June 30 at approximately 5 p.m. Divers entered the water and located what they believed to be a human bone in the vehicle, brought it to the surface and called 911 at 7:43 p.m.
Marine Bureau divers conducted an initial search of the vehicle before suspending the search at approximately 9 p.m. due to water conditions, LILP reported. The search resumed July 1 and Marine Bureau divers located additional human remains that belonged to Long. The vehicle was removed from the water utilizing a crane from Murphy’s Marine Services in Port Jefferson.
LILP reached out to the SCPD for information on how the car was in the water for so long and whether foul play was involved. A spokesperson referred LILP to the press release, stating that is the only information they are giving out right now.