Body Of Second MS-13 Victim Found At Massapequa Preserve

The body of another victim of MS-13 was found buried in the Massapequa Preserve in Massapequa Park on Friday, Nassau County police said.

Police were investigating the Massapequa Preserve Friday night and into Saturday. They say they found the body of an unidentified person in a shallow grave on Friday.

According to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, detectives have been investigating in the preserve multiple times. In 2017, officers found the body of 19-year-old Julio Cesar Gonzales-Espantzay buried in the preserve. While investigating his death, police say they found information indicating that a second body was buried in the preserve.

Detectives returned to the area multiple times over the last two years trying to find any sign of the body. It was finally found on Friday.

Police did not release the identity of who they believe was found in the grave. But if it is who they believe it is, Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said that the body was likely buried there for two years, in an area just 150 feet away from where Gonzales-Espantzay was found.

Fitzpatrick said that the person recovered on Friday was most likely murdered in the Massapequa Preserve, and that the police know who was behind the death.

Ryder said that the body that was recovered on Friday is the last known victim of MS-13 violence in Nassau County. Police do not believe there are any more bodies buried in the county.

"We believe at this time we've found all of the victims," Ryder said. "We want people to know the parks are safe."