Three More Bodies Found at Beach

An arrow marking where the fifth body was found last week. (Long Island Press, April 3, 2011)

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer announced at a press conference Monday that three additional bodies have been found in the brush and woods off Ocean Parkway during today’s search, bringing the body count at the beach to eight.

UPDATE: Shannan Gilbert Not Among 8 Bodies

Dormer asked the media and the public to stay away from the area, and released no details as to the most recent bodies, as the investigation is continuing and the area is once again, a crime scene investigation. Ocean Parkway, originally set to open at 7 p.m. Monday night, will remain closed overnight, while the search continues into tomorrow.

Dozens of investigators descended upon the eastern end of Jones Beach Island to resume the search for possible victims of a serial killer on Monday.

Suffolk County police shut down the westbound lanes of Ocean Parkway from Captree Bridge to Tobay Beach from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while a search party combed the north side of the barrier island between Oak Beach and the Nassau County line.

The search follows the discovery last week of a fifth set of human remains west of Cedar Beach, about a mile east of Gilgo Beach, where four online escorts were found dead in December.

Officials have not discussed the condition or gender of the latest remains and have said it is too early to say if the find is linked to the other bodies.

A sign on the Meadowbrook Parkway Sunday reminding drivers Ocean Parkway would be closed as the investigation continues

Forensic experts have said the identification process can take a month or longer.

Click here to see more pictures of the serial killer investigation

Police found all five while searching for Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old missing prostitute from New Jersey last seen in Oak Beach last May. She has been ruled out as the latest victim and remains missing.

Detectives suspect a serial killer could be responsible for the deaths, but have not identified any suspects.

More than 20 police academy recruits, three K-9 units, the marine bureau and emergency services units were involved along with New York State police. Local volunteer firefighters will aid in the search as well.

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The area borders on marshland and is thick with underbrush, terrain searchers have found difficult to maneuver.