Teen’s discovery of severed arm in NY park leads to more remains

BABYLON, N.Y. (NewsNation) — A high school student discovered human body parts near a park in Babylon, New York, on her way to class Thursday morning, according to authorities.

The girl, who attends Babylon Middle School and High School, called her father when she made the discovery. Her father then proceeded to call 911, WABC-TV reported.

Suffolk County police discovered two human arms and a leg in a wooded portion of Southards Pond Park, the report said.

The left arm, which is believed to be that of a man, was severed at the bicep, had a distinct tattoo and no fingertips, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. 

A police cadaver dog searching the western side of the park found a leg sticking out of a pile of leaves across the park, authorities said. Investigators told NewsNation affiliate WPIX the same dog also found a right arm on the eastern side of the park, about 20 feet from where the left arm was discovered.

Investigators said they haven’t yet identified who the body parts belong to, or if they even belong to the same person.

Authorities suspended their search for more remains Thursday night but continued the investigation Friday.

The body parts appear to have been dumped recently, according to authorities. The tattoos could be the crucial clue to identifying the body, or bodies, these parts once belonged to, police said.

Two nearby schools had indoor recess as a precautionary measure due to the police investigation. The superintendent called the incident “extremely unsettling” in a letter to parents, but noted the investigation was unrelated to the schools.

Mental health resources are available to students in the Babylon School District.

NewsNation affiliate WPIX contributed to this report.