Human Body Found on Plum Island

Plum Island Animal Disease Center Building 257, closed in 1995, sits fenced and boarded up on Plum Island off of the east coast of New York's Long Island, in this Feb. 16, 2004 file photo. (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File)

A human body has washed ashore on tiny Plum Island, where the U.S. government has an aging lab for studying dangerous animal diseases.

Suffolk police say a security guard on foot patrol discovered the clothed body Thursday afternoon on the southwest beach area of the island, where access is restricted.

Homicide Squad detectives say the partially decomposed body was that of a black man about 6 -feet tall with a large build and very long fingers.  He was wearing a light green three button short sleeve shirt, green cargo pants with buttons inscribed with the words “God Body Collection,” brown loafer style size 10 shoes, blue plaid boxer style underwear and a belt with a buckle inscribed with the words “Stacy Adams.” There were no obvious signs of trauma.

The Suffolk County medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Plum Island has been called a potential target for terrorists because of its stock of vaccines and diseases, such as African swine fever. Anyone with information about the identity of this person is asked to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.