9 Defendants To Be Arraigned In Connection With Missing Long Island Girl's Case: Reports

LONG ISLAND, NY — Nine out of 12 defendants arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 14-year-old Long Island girl were set to be arraigned on Thursday on an indictment, according to reports.

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.

Ralph Knowles, 63, and Rebecca Browell, 48, of Brentwood were reportedly arrested in connection with the case last week.

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.

Online court records show that the nine indicted in connection with the case includes Buckheit, Eccleston, Burke, Harrell, McDonald, Hunter, Knight, Comiskey, and Knowles.

Papa told Patch that Buckheit continues to maintain his innocence.

"We feel the District Attorney's office is twisting the facts of the case to support a narrative that simply does not exist," she said. "There is no evidence to suggest the complainant was held against her will. She was free to come and go from the boat at all times."

Knowles' attorney, Chase Brown, said he pleaded not guilty, "maintains his innocence, and is looking forward to receiving his discovery and his day in court.”

Attorneys for Eccleston, Burke, Harrell, McDonald, Hunter, Knight, and Comiskey were not immediately available for comment.

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.

His attorney, Katherine Fernandez of Uniondale, told Patch he is "the final individual arrested in the matter so far, and adamantly denies the charges he was arrested for, and reserves further comment at this time."

She said there "will be much more to this story."

While he was not included in Thursday's indictment, it is to Fernandez's understanding that he has been indicted and she is awaiting his arraignment date "where the formal charges will be unsealed."

"We look forward to after that time where we can begin to share details as they pertain to my client particularly that will give the full story and a much different account of what has been provided to the press thus far," she added.

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