Volunteer divers searching Mount Sinai Harbor on Long Island believe they’ve found the remains of Robert Long, a man who vanished in 2010, after discovering human bones in a submerged vehicle.
According to a statement from the Suffolk County Police Department, on the evening of June 30, divers from the nonprofit groups Exploring With a Mission and Adventures With Purpose were scanning near the Cedar Beach boat ramp using sonar when they detected a submerged Chrysler PT Cruiser. Inside, they spotted what appeared to be a human bone.
After retrieving the bone and contacting authorities around 7:43 p.m., Marine Bureau divers began investigating the vehicle but had to suspend their search due to poor water conditions. The following day, additional human remains were recovered, and a crane was used to extract the vehicle. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner will determine the identity of the remains and the cause of death.
William McIntosh, co-founder of Exploring With a Mission, told PEOPLE that he and his partner, known as “Diver Dan,” were actively searching for Robert Long, one of six missing people the team is investigating in the area. McIntosh said he was contacted by members of a Facebook group dedicated to finding Long and targeted the boat ramp near the liquor store where Long was last seen.
Long, then 62, disappeared in December 2010 after leaving a liquor store in Miller Place, driving a white 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. That same model was found under nearly 19 feet of water.
McIntosh described the moment they identified the vehicle: “Within two minutes of scanning, I picked up a very faint sonar image of a car.” The PT Cruiser was covered in silt and marine life, indicating it had been submerged for a long time.
Once they confirmed it was a match, Diver Dan entered the vehicle and found a rib cage on the driver’s side. He surfaced with a bone to alert authorities and preserve the scene for investigation.
After the discovery, McIntosh met with Long’s wife, Joanne, who had visited the boat ramp several times over the years, convinced her husband was there. “She thanked us extensively and was very grateful,” he said. “She told me, ‘I know he’s in there.’”
While the remains have not yet been officially identified, Joanne Long shared a heartfelt message on Facebook:
“My husband’s remains have been recovered. I will continue to pray for those who are still awaiting answers… My prayer is for you to find your loved one. GOD BLESS YOU.”
McIntosh, whose team has located several missing persons over the years, said their work provides grieving families with long-awaited closure. “It’s humbling,” he said. “We help them turn the page from ‘Where is he?’ to a new chapter in their lives.”
