Crime & Safety

Human Remains in Queens Believed to Be Linked to Missing Rego Park Teen

Police are investigating what they believe to be remains of Avonte Oquendo found along the Queens shoreline.

Police discovered human body parts in Queens Thursday night that they believe could be the remains of Avonte Oquendo, an autistic teen from Rego Park who has been missing since October, NY 1 reported.

The remains included an arm with a hand attached and a leg with a foot attached that washed ashore around 8 p.m. in College Point.

Investigators also found pants and a pair of Air Jordan sneakers, both of which were the same size and brand that Oquendo was seen wearing before he went missing, NY 1 reported.

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Police boats and divers are continuing to search the water for more remains and the city’s medical examiner is working to identify the remains and determine the cause of death.

Oquendo, 14, went missing after leaving Long Island City’s Riverview School on Oct. 4.

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A massive search for the youth, who cannot communicate verbally, went on for weeks.

After Oquendo’s disappearance, then-Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said he would review school safety procedures and the teen’s parents filed a claim to sue the city on the grounds that the youth was not supervised.


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