In a recent development that may bring closure to a decade-old missing person's case, volunteer divers on Long Island discovered human remains in a submerged vehicle that is believed to belong to Robert Long, a local man missing since 2011. According to a report by ABC7 New York, the find was made in Mount Sinai Harbor by two non-profit organizations, Exploring With A Mission and Adventures with Purpose.
Using side-scan sonar technology near the Cedar Beach boat ramp, they uncovered a PT Cruiser lying underwater around 5:30 p.m. on June 30. A diver from the teams, upon making the discovery, pulled a bone from the sediment-filled interior, "I reached in and grabbed a handful of bones, and brought one up to the surface," said the man known as 'Diver Dan,' recalled in a statement obtained by NBC New York. After presenting the initial evidence to the surface, the team contacted law enforcement officials.
The Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad intervened with their Marine Bureau divers conducting an initial search, which was paused that night due to adverse water conditions, and resumed the following day when more human remains were located. Subsequently, the vehicle was extracted from the water using a crane.
The efforts of these volunteers have been focused on cases like that of Robert Long, shedding light on mysteries that have long since faded from public attention. "What we want to do is bring answers and give hope, to show that someone still cares," said Bill McIntosh, a mission member who operated the sonar equipment to first pick up the vehicle's presence, as per NBC New York. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office is charged with the task of confirming the identity of the remains and determining the cause of death. While there is currently no suspicion of criminal activity in how the car ended up in the water, the medical examiner's findings will provide definitive answers.
Local onlookers, including Gerard Matlock who stumbled upon the scene, expressed astonishment and gratitude for the breakthrough. "He’s sitting right there. How could nobody find it? You’d think with people fishing there and everything, something would have," Matlock told NBC New York. The volunteer group Exploring With A Mission focuses on bringing hope to cases like Robert Long's. They continue to search for missing people, helping give closure and relief to waiting families.
