Child Sex Trafficking Charges In Connection With Missing Long Island Girl's Case: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — There is now a total of seven people who have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a teen girl, including two women on charges of child sex trafficking after prosecutors say they used her to get drugs and money from men, Newsday reported, citing court records.

Elizabeth Hunter, 34, of Islip is accused of spending a week on the boat where the teen was found, and is alleged to have taken nude and sexually explicit photographs of her that she used to advertise her for sex in exchange for drugs and money, prosecutors said at her arraignment, the outlet reported.

Prosecutors allege Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, of Bellport took the girl to a house in Copiague on Jan. 2, where she traded her for crack cocaine to a man who is accused of raping her, according to the outlet.

In addition to child sex trafficking, Hunter was charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance of a child and child endangerment, according to online court records.

She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, and her bail was set at $750,000, $1,500,000 insured bond, and $7,500,000 partially secured bond, the records show.

Comiskey's arraignment information was not immediately available.

Both women are being held in the custody of the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Errol Toulon's office said Wednesday.

Patch has reached out to Burke's defense attorney, Joseph Hansche of Sayville, for comment.

Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, and Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip, were reportedly arrested Friday with investigators alleging they kidnapped the teen and held her at their homes "where she was unlikely to be found" between around 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 and midnight on Dec. 13.

Burke kept the teen at his home on Valley Forge Drive and had sex with her there, while Eccleston is accused of having sex with her twice inside a detached garage behind his home on Monell Avenue, where he is alleged to have her at some point over the three days, according to the outlet.

Burke pleaded not guilty to first-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape, and child endangerment, and has been remanded without bail, according to online court records.

Eccleston pleaded not guilty to second-degree rape and kidnapping, as well as child endangerment, and his bail was set at $500,000, $1 million insured bond, or $5 million partially secured surety bond, court records show.

Both Burke and Eccleston are being held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, a spokeswoman for Errol Toulon said Monday.

Burke and Eccleston had temporary restraining orders were issued against them and they are due back in court on Wednesday, according to the records.

Eccleston's court-appointed attorney, Del Atwell, of East Hampton, declined to comment.
Burke is reportedly being represented by Oscar Crisafio, of Central Islip, could not be reached for comment.

Three men were arrested in connection with the case in recent weeks, the first being Francis Buckheit, of East Islip, his defense attorney Danielle Marie Papa of Hauppauge confirmed.

He was charged with second-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping, as well as misdemeanor child endangerment.

Buckheit, who is being held without bail, works with tools and had been living on a boat full-time before his arrest, his family told Papa.

"He maintains his innocence and will fight the charges vigorously," she said.
Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague, was also charged in connection with the case, according to reports.

Last week, Alton Harrell was charged with second-degree rape and kidnapping, as well as child endangerment.

His defense attorney, Jeremy Scileppi of Commack, told Patch that he does not believe that his client was involved in kidnapping, and that prosecutors will not be able to prove it.

"My review of the paperwork that was provided to me, and Mr. Harrell indicates to me, this girl ran away from home, and was not held against her will by my client," he said.
He declined to reveal any details about Harrell.

"It's my understanding that [prosecutors] are in the process of presenting all matters relating to this investigation to a Grand Jury," he said. "My client is remaining incarcerated because [prosecutors] have certified that they've presented enough evidence to secure an indictment against him."

"I'm awaiting an advisement from the courts as to when or where an arraignment of my client might take place on an indictment," he added.

Suffolk police previously told Patch that the teen was found in Islip "in good health," but did not release further details about the circumstances, instead only saying that the investigation is continuing.

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