The mysterious death of a teenager whose body was found in a marshy area four blocks from his Islip home has been ruled a homicide.
Suffolk County police said they found the body of 18-year-old Kyle Underhill shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday in a wooded area on Brook Street behind Commack Road Elementary School.
His parents reported him missing Thursday after Underhill was last seen at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Investigators quickly determined the disappearance was suspicious Friday and honed in on the area where he was found the next morning.
Medical examiners pronounced Underhill dead at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives believe he may have been murdered.
A police spokeswoman said Monday the death did not appear gang-related but did not release information regarding the cause of death or possible motive.
Underhill was a 2011 graduate of Islip High School who was a freshman at Farmingdale State College. He worked two part-time jobs at Teller’s Chophouse and Manhattan Sweets, both on Main Street in downtown Islip.
He was reportedly described by employers as bright and gregarious.
Detectives ask anyone with information about this case to contact them at 631-852-6392 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.