Drug Indictment For 2 Arrested In Connection With Missing LI Girl Case: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — A man and woman charged in connection with the disappearance of a teenage girl are facing a 14-count indictment on drug charges, Newsday reported.

Ralph Knowles, 63, and Rebecca Browell, 48, of Brentwood sold fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in January and early February, the outlet reported, citing the indictment.

The charges include both criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance, as well as criminal use of drug paraphernalia, online court records show.

Knowles was previously charged with rape, among other charges, and Browell, child endangerment, court records show.

Knowles was reportedly included in a 75-count indictment in which nine were charged with child sex trafficking, kidnapping, and rape.

Knowles pleaded not guilty to the drug charge indictment and his bail was set at $250,000, $500,000 insured bond, and $1 million partially secured bond, according to the records.

In relation to the missing girl's case, his attorney, Chase Brown of Central Islip, previously told Patch "maintains his innocence, and is looking forward to receiving his discovery and his day in court."

He was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment on the latest charges.

Knowles is due back in court on March 26.

Browell is expected to be arraigned on the indictment on Friday, court records show.

Patch has reached out to her attorney Pierre Bazile of Huntington.

Brazile told Newsday that he intends to enter a plea of not guilty and that Browell "maintains her innocence."

The first arrest in the case of the missing girl 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 include Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, and Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip, who 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 arrested in connection with the case.

Two women were charged 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.

Knowles was reportedly included in a 75-count indictment in which nine were charged with 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.

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.

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