Police Release Identity Of Human Remains Found Submerged In Vehicle On Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — A man who was reported missing close to 15 years ago — Robert Long, 62, of Miller Place — has been identified as the man whose remains were found in a vehicle in Mt. Sinai on June 30, Suffolk police said.

Long was reported missing on Dec. 22, 2010.

The county's Office of the Medical Examiner determined Long's identity and will be probing his cause of death.

Representatives from two volunteer organizations, Explorers with a Mission, and Adventures with
Purpose, were using side-scan sonar devices near the Cedar Beach boat ramp and found a PT
Cruiser submerged in the water at around 5 p.m. on June 30, according to police.

Divers found what they believed to be a human bone in the vehicle, brought it to the surface, and called 911 at 7:43 p.m., police said, adding that the department's Marine Bureau divers conducted an initial search of the vehicle before suspending the search at around 9 p.m. due to water conditions.

When the search resumed July 1, Marine Bureau divers found additional human remains, police said.

The vehicle was removed from the water using a crane from Murphy’s Marine Services in Port
Jefferson.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Homicide Squad detectives at 631-852-6392.

Lisa Finn contributed additional reporting.