Source: Authorities trying to determine if arm found in Hempstead is associated with Bay Shore body

A severed arm was found on the front lawn of a home in Hempstead Wednesday, and a source said authorities were trying to determine if it was related to a female body found Tuesday in Suffolk.

Hempstead police had blocked off part of Webb Avenue near Washington Avenue with yellow crime scene tape Wednesday afternoon. The Suffolk County police homicide commander, Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, was at a Webb Avenue home where detectives were seen going in and out.

The Nassau County police homicide squad was also on the scene. Police dogs were visible for a time at the scene on Webb Avenue.

Jose Diaz, 56, a deli owner who since 1989 has lived at the home where the arm was found, said his wife's brother, Noel Rivera, discovered what appeared to be a human arm in their front yard about 2 p.m. Wednesday and called 911.

Diaz said the arm was on a grass and dirt area just inside of a white picket fence lining the front of the property.

"He almost passed out," Diaz said, referring to Rivera.

Investigators removed the arm and an about-8-foot section of the fence, which had some blood on it, Diaz said.

Diaz said he does not have surveillance cameras outside his home, and while it was scary that a body part was found in his front yard, he was not surprised. "Anybody can pass by and drop anything," he said.

Neighbors expressed shock at the gruesome discovery.

"It's just shaken the whole community to see something like this," said Jim Allison, 32, a laborer who lives across the street.

Suffolk police confirmed its investigators were involved and said the body part was sent to the Nassau medical examiner's office.

Suffolk police had said Tuesday they were investigating the discovery of the partially dismembered, unidentified female body in a weed-strewn lot in Bay Shore. Beyrer had said two passersby called police after seeing the body as they walked to the Fire Island Ferries about 6:50 a.m.

Police had no comment on the approximate age of the victim.

Beyrer said Tuesday that authorities were looking into missing-persons reports.