Police investigating the Long Island serial killings yesterday found a shoe and two teeth they believe are from a skull discovered near Jones Beach, which may help in identifying the victim.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said that the teeth may belong to the skull but that a determination would be made by the Nassau County medical examiner, with help from the New York City ME’s Office and an anthropologist.
Using chain saws and machetes, Nassau County and State Police cleared a 25-square-foot area of dense brush where the two earlier discoveries were made, said Nassau Detective Lt. Kevin Smith.
Investigators then searched the soil, running sand through a screen, to filter out evidence. That was when the teeth were found, in close proximity to where the skull was discovered.
A shoe was also recovered, but it was not immediately determined whether it was related to the remains, said Mangano.
In addition to the skull, another set of remains were found on April 4 about two miles away, mostly leg bones. State Police yesterday again searched that site but found no additional evidence.
The two sets of bones in Nassau were the ninth and 10th sets of human remains found since the search for a serial killer began in December.
A source said both sets of remains in Nassau were years older than those identified so far in Suffolk and may not be related to the four murdered women identified so far.
Four of the Suffolk victims were identified as young Craigslist prostitutes slain, apparently by a serial killer, between 2007 and late 2010.
Four others in Suffolk, including a man and an infant, have yet to be identified and are also believed to be older than the known victims.
An 11th possible victim, Shannan Gilbert, is still missing from the Oak Beach area. Police asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.