13th Person Arrested In Connection With Missing Long Island Girl's Case: Reports

LONG ISLAND, NY — An Amityville man is the 13th person arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl, according to reports, citing court documents.

A criminal complaint alleges Anthony Wright, 40, had sex with the teen at his Silverpine Drive home late on Dec. 22 into the next morning, Newsday reported.

His arrest was based on a sworn written statement the girl gave on Feb. 18, as well as an interview investigators had with Wright on Monday, the outlet reported, citing the complaint.

He was charged on Monday with second-degree rape, a felony, and child endangerment, a misdemeanor, for an incident on Dec. 22, according to online court records.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip, and his bail was set at $500,000, $1 million insured bond, or $1.5 million partially secured surety bond, online court records show.

Wright had not posted bail as of Tuesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Suffolk County Sheriff's office said.

His attorney, Eric Besso of Sayville, was not immediately available for comment.

Wright is due back in court on Friday, records show.

Out of the 13 people reportedly arrested in connection with the case, 10 are men and three women.

The first arrest in the case was that of Francis Buckheit, of East Islip, his defense attorney Danielle Marie Papa of Hauppauge said.

The second person arrested was Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague, with investigators alleging he had sex with the girl inside of his house hours before she was found, according to reports.

Others arrested reportedly include Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, and Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip, were reportedly arrested with investigators alleging they kidnapped the teen and held her at their homes.

A 20-year-old from Medford, Kevin McDonald, was also reportedly arrested in connection with the case.

Two women were also reportedly charged on Jan. 24 with child trafficking in the case — Elizabeth Hunter, 34, of Islip, and Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, of Bellport — for using the teen for money and drugs from men.

Seven men and two women will answer a 75-count indictment containing updated charges, including child sex trafficking, kidnapping, and rape, Newsday reported.

Thirty-five-year-old Bellport resident Alton Harrell, who is alleged to have picked the teen up at her house on Dec. 9, faces the most serious upgrade with a new top charge of first-degree kidnapping, the outlet reported, citing court records.

Other arrests in connection with the case include that of Ralph Knowles, 63, and Rebecca Browell, 48, of Brentwood.

Online court records show that the nine indicted in connection with the case includes not only Knowles, but Buckheit, Eccleston, Burke, Harrell, McDonald, Hunter, Knight, and Comiskey.

Also previously arrested in the case was DeShaun McClean, a 42-year-old mental health worker, has been accused of having sexual contact with the teen between Jan. 9 and Jan. 23 at a children's mental health facility that she was staying at in Suffolk after she was found, according to News 12.

Daniel Soto, 36, of Bay Shore, was the 12th person arrested on a felony charge of second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

All have denied the charges, according to online court records.

Editor's note: The teen's name is being withheld to protect her identity as a minor.