Sources: Man found dead in East Shoreham pool may be suspect in father's homicide

Suffolk police are investigating the possibility that the man found dead in an East Shoreham swimming pool Sunday is a suspect in a November homicide, law enforcement sources told Newsday.

Matthew Zoll, 23, was wanted in the Nov. 9 stabbing death of his father, Joseph, at their home on Quail Road in Rocky Point, police said at the time.

Investigators are now looking to verify that Zoll is the man who was found in the Pal Court pool, the sources said.

Police said in November that Zoll crashed a black GMC Yukon at the intersection of Route 25A and William Floyd Parkway at 1:35 a.m. Nov. 9 after fleeing the scene of the alleged killing. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force spent several days in November searching wooded areas along William Floyd Parkway, including the 1,600-acre Brookhaven State Park, attempting to find Zoll, who police previously said was schizophrenic.

The house on Pal Court where the body was found is about a half-mile from the November crash site. A wooded lot directly behind the backyard swimming pool extends east past four neighboring yards to William Floyd Parkway.

The startling discovery was made at 4:20 p.m. Sunday by a resident of the Pal Court home while removing a cover from the pool, police said. The homeowner declined to comment Monday morning.

A patrol car was dispatched to the Pal Court residence Sunday for a report of a "deceased male in the pool," according to a recording of the transmission on Broadcastify.com.

"Rescue is going to be unverified," the dispatcher later stated.

Police closed off Pal Court at the corner of Cobblestone Drive for several hours Sunday evening while police investigated at the residence.

Neighbor Peter Gawreluk said he became aware of the discovery shortly after police arrived. He described it as a "terrible thing" to encounter.

"I really wouldn't be happy opening my pool to find that," Gawreluk said.

Gavan Israel, 23, who lived across the street from Joseph Zoll on Quail Road, described him as a friendly neighbor and "family guy."

Israel said it was "beyond shocking" to learn about the 61-year-old postal worker's death after seeing police at the house in November and even more surprising to learn that his son might have been found more than six months later.

“My thoughts go out to Joe’s family," Israel said Monday. "I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”

Police said Sunday night that the case is being investigated by the Suffolk Homicide Squad, and an autopsy was being performed by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine cause of death and to make an identification.

NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn contributed to this story.

CORRECTION: Joseph Zoll was 61 years old.  An earlier version of this story had an incorrect age.