Body recovered from Underhill Preserve in Jericho after MS-13 related search by FBI, Nassau police, authorities say

Human remains were recovered at the Underhill Preserve in Jericho by law enforcement officials in an MS-13 related investigation, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

Federal agents and multiple Nassau police crime scene search units responded to the scene on Wednesday by Cedar Swamp Road across from Jericho High School. Numerous uniformed and plain-clothed officers were seen searching the 81-acre preserve.

The search relates to an ongoing investigation involving MS-13 gang activity, authorities said.

A statement Thursday from Nassau police said: "On Wednesday ... the Nassau County Police Department assisted the FBI with removing human remains from the area of Underhill Preserve in Jericho in furtherance of an investigation being conducted by the FBI. The remains appear to have been present for several years and law enforcement has a preliminary identification of the deceased that   will be confirmed by further testing. The individual believed to be responsible is in law enforcement custody and there is no threat to the community. All further questions should be directed to the FBI."

Town of Oyster Bay spokesman Brian Nevin said town officials were notified on Wednesday night by law enforcement that a body had been recovered from the preserve — but said the town had not been updated on additional details of the investigation.

"Certainly, we’ve heard from residents that are concerned," Nevin said on Thursday. "The community is fearful with the thought of gangs in their backyard — and, a murder — and they’re looking for more information."

He said town hall fielded calls on Wednesday night from parents of students at nearby Jericho High School concerned about the proximity of the school to the preserve — and questioning the possibility of violent activity there, based on the discovery. "We’re trying to sort it all out," he said.

Nassau police referred all further inquiries to the FBI, which did not respond to several requests for comment.

Oyster Bay Councilwoman Vicki Walsh said the incident was unsettling for residents because of all the unknowns — and because federal law enforcement officials had not kept the town in the loop on aspects of their investigation.

"We have a good relationship with local law enforcement," Walsh said, "but unfortunately they’re not able to tell us things because it’s a federal investigation."

Walsh said she'd received calls from concerned parents: "They’re very upset. Some actually didn’t want to send their kids to school today," said Walsh, of East Norwich. "That preserve is located near afterschool activities; it’s near a walking area for the kids. The feeling of not knowing what’s going on? It’s unnerving."

 "Authorities have assured us that this has nothing to do with the Jericho School District and poses absolutely no threat to our students, staff or community," said Hank Grishman, superintendent of schools for the Jericho School District.  

The preserve was acquired in 2002 by the state, Nassau County and the Town of Oyster Bay.

The Underhill Preserve is a nature preserve located northwest of Route 25, Jericho Turnpike, and west of Cedar Swamp Road in Jericho. It is located across Cedar Swamp Road from the grounds of Jericho High School and the Jericho middle school and is bordered by the Meadow Brook Golf Club and the entrance to SUNY-Old Westbury, as well as by Foxwood residential area and The Hamlet Estates.

With Maureen Mullarkey