Four individuals faced charges on Wednesday for allegedly concealing dismembered human bodies, but were released on supervised release due to New York state's bail reform laws, sparking outrage and criticism from law enforcement officials.
Steven Brown, 44, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, Amanda Wallace, 40, and Alexis Nieves, 33, were accused of participating in a gruesome scheme involving the dismemberment and disposal of human remains in a home in Amityville, Suffolk County prosecutors revealed in court.
Despite the horrific nature of the crimes, none of the accused have been charged with murder, according to Suffolk police. They face charges including hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse, and tampering with physical evidence.
The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were released with ankle monitors under supervised release as per the bail reform laws. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney criticized these laws, stating that recent reforms have limited the eligibility for cash bail, preventing prosecutors from seeking it for serious crimes like mutilation and disposal of human remains.
Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder revealed at Mackey's arraignment that additional charges were expected against him, as he was allegedly involved in hacking off the limbs of two human bodies and scattering them across several areas in the county.
While authorities have yet to disclose the motive behind the killings or the relationship between the victims and the accused, evidence collected from the scene included body parts, meat cleavers, butcher knives, and significant amounts of blood.
Despite prosecutors' arguments for the defendants to be considered flight risks, District Court Judge Edward Hennessey opted for supervised release, citing current statutes that restrict the availability of cash bail.
The arrests came following a series of grisly discoveries beginning on Feb. 29, when a severed arm was found near Babylon park by a student. Subsequently, various body parts, including severed heads, were found in different locations across Long Island.
Brown, Mackey, and Wallace resided at the Railroad Avenue house where the alleged crimes took place, while Nieves had moved in recently.
Attorneys representing the accused maintained their clients' innocence and vowed to challenge the charges vigorously.
The defendants are scheduled to appear in court for further proceedings in March.
