Law enforcement officials are investigating the discovery of a human torso on a beach in Queens, which they suspect could be the remains of Ross McDonnell, a renowned Irish filmmaker and photographer. McDonnell, 44, has been missing for over a week. While authorities are awaiting DNA test results for confirmation, they believe that McDonnell may have drowned and his body subsequently damaged by natural elements before washing up on Breezy Point Beach.
McDonnell, an Emmy award-winning artist, was last seen leaving his residence in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, around 8:30 p.m. on November 4, according to the New York Police Department. His bicycle was later found locked at Fort Tilden Beach on November 7, leading investigators to believe he may have visited the beach later that night or early the following morning.
Gene Gallerano, a close friend of McDonnell, shared with The Irish Times that McDonnell seemed to have entered the ocean and then vanished. Gallerano expressed the emotional toll of the past week, stating, “He was last seen last Saturday night; the alarm was sounded on Sunday. We don’t know much more than that. It’s been a very, very emotionally heavy week.”
On Friday, police received a 911 call around noon reporting a human torso, with legs still attached, lying on the sand at the popular southern Queens beach. The authorities have yet to determine the cause of death, age, or gender of the individual.
Investigators are currently seeking McDonnell’s belongings, including a red puffy North Face vest, black and white sneakers, dark-colored khaki pants, and a black North Face backpack, in their ongoing search for clues about his disappearance.
McDonnell, a native of Dublin who frequently traveled for work, won an Emmy in 2021 for his cinematography on the Showtime series “The Trade.” His debut feature film, “Colony,” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the IDFA First Feature Award, as well as an Irish Film and Television Award Nomination. In 2019, he was shortlisted for the prestigious photography award “Prix Pictet” with the theme “Hope.” He also received an Emmy nomination in 2018 for directing the documentary “Elian,” produced by CNN Films, BBC, and Jigsaw Productions.