A Long Island man, Gary Cowell, 72, of Patchogue, has been indicted for unlawful concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence. The charges stem from the alleged dismemberment of a 56-year-old woman from Patchogue, whose remains were found across three locations in Patchogue.
The Suffolk County District Attorney, Raymond A. Tierney, announced the indictment, stating that Cowell was allegedly involved in the dismemberment of the deceased individual. He commended the Suffolk County Police detectives for swiftly locating the victim's remains and assured the victim's family and the public of their commitment to pursuing justice through the legal process.
According to the investigation, law enforcement was alerted on June 18, 2024, that a woman was missing and had not been seen since June 13, 2024. Detectives interviewed Cowell, who was reportedly the last person to see the woman alive. Subsequently, detectives accompanied Cowell to his residence in Patchogue, where they discovered the dismembered remains.
During the search of Cowell's residence, detectives allegedly recovered an axe believed to have been used in the dismemberment, along with other pieces of evidence. The investigation is ongoing, and the cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner.
Cowell is scheduled to appear in court on July 25, 2024, and is currently being held on a $1 million cash bond pending further legal proceedings.
