The dismembered that was discovered on a beach in Queens, New York on Friday, November 17 has been further linked to missing Irish man Ross McDonnell.
"We believe the body to be that of Ross McDonnell," a senior police official said Tuesday, according to ABC 7 Eyewitness News in New York.
The police official added that confirmation is pending further study, including toxicology and DNA reports.
“We matched a birthmark on the body that was discovered (to McDonnell),” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said on Tuesday, according to the Daily News.
“We also have photographs of him wearing the same swimsuit.”
Police previously said that on Friday, at approximately 12:21 pm, they responded to a 911 call of a found human torso at Breezy Point Beach, within the confines of the 100th Precinct.
Upon arrival, officers observed an unidentified, human torso with attached legs discovered lying on the sand at the above location.
EMS responded and pronounced the aided deceased at the scene.
Police said that the Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death and that the identity of the deceased is pending proper family notification.
44-year-old McDonnell, a native of Howth in Dublin, has been missing in New York since November 4. The multi-Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker and photographer was a long-term resident of Brooklyn.
A missing person flyer noted that McDonnell's bicycle was located at Fort Tilden Beach on November 7.
“The bike was secured on a rack and locked, which means he intended to come back for it,” Kenny said on Tuesday, according to the Daily News.
Ross McDonnell - friend, colleague, and phenomenal photographer and filmmaker - is disappeared in New York. His bike was discovered at Fort Tilden Beach.
Please help spread this and anyone there with any info, please come forward.
Ross is a diamond who is in all out hearts. pic.twitter.com/q1r6sA23zw
— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) November 12, 2023
The Daily News further reported that cops said a fisherman reeled in the torso and legs near the Silver Gull Beach Club in a section of the federally-owned Gateway National Recreation Area Friday afternoon.
Friends heard about the discovery on the Citizen app and raced to the scene, where they showed cops photos of McDonnell, including his birthmark and swimwear.
The corpse was wearing red Adidas shorts seen in the photos friends provided, Kenny said, according to the Daily News.
In a post on X on Tuesday, McDonnell's friend Ioan Grillo said his heart was broken.
"I miss you, brother," Grillo wrote, linking to his emotional blog post about McDonnell's disappearance.
"The tragedy not only leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of his family as well as many friends and loved ones," Grillo wrote in the blog post, "It deprives the world of one of the best photographers and filmmakers of his generation."
Grillo noted in his blog post that McDonnell had been doing a lot of 'wild swimming' over the past year and frequented Fort Tilden beach.
My heart is broken about Ross McDonnell.
He was one of the best photo journalists and documentary cinematographers of our generation, a caring friend, and a light that burned so bright. My heart goes out to his family.
I miss you brother.
Read about him:https://t.co/Zi5Uf1nF92 pic.twitter.com/u2ZIiQQ6B1
— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) November 21, 2023
Earlier on Tuesday, Gene Gallerano, a close friend and long-term colleague of McDonnell told the Irish Times: “At this stage, we’re just respecting the wishes of Ross’s family.
"It’s been a heart-breaking time for them, for all of us.”
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