Teen Discovers Human Remains in Long Island Park

Teen track team member finds possible missing elderly woman’s remains in Long Island park.

2 min read

A teenage boy running with a track team in a Long Island park made a disturbing discovery on Thursday afternoon. The runners, from Manhasset High School, were on the trails behind Plandome Pond Park when one of them spotted human remains in the brush, according to NBC New York.

Investigation into Missing Woman’s Case

The Nassau County Police Department confirmed the discovery in a news release, stating that skeletal human remains were found in a wooded area of the park located at 192 Lindberg Street. The investigation is ongoing, and officials believe the find may help solve a missing persons case.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder noted that the remains were female and that authorities do not believe anything criminal occurred. The woman in question is 79-year-old Shi Hua Xu, who disappeared from her home in Great Neck in late 2025. Xu suffers from dementia and was known to take long walks, but she was not wearing her tracker when she vanished. The community launched a search for her when she did not return home.

Neighbors and Family React

Neighbor Diana Cotumaccio, who has lived in the area for 30 years, expressed surprise at the discovery, stating that there were several police cars and officers present, indicating the presence of remains in the park. Meanwhile, Xu’s family members positively identified a piece of clothing found at the scene, confirming it belonged to the elderly woman.

Plandome Heights Mayor Kenneth Riscica praised the young man who made the discovery, noting that when detectives asked him how he was doing, his response was, “I’m doing fine. I only hope this brings closure to a family that lost someone.”

Community and Law Enforcement Response

Authorities continue to work to determine if the remains belong to Xu, and the investigation is expected to take time. The incident has brought attention to the importance of community involvement in missing persons cases, especially for individuals with conditions like dementia who may wander off without their tracking devices.