There Are Two Long Island Serial Killers; Fifth Victim Identified as Jessica Taylor

Police found the remains of six bodies last month on Long Island, and when added to the four bodies found previously nearby, all belonging to women who worked as prostitutes, the state had something scary on its hands. Things just got a little bit more terrifying: a fifth victim has been identified as Jessica Taylor, 20, but police say, "At least two of the new victims, both women, may be the work of a second serial killer," the New York Times reports. The first four women -- Melissa Barthelemy of the Bronx, Amber Lynn Costello of North Babylon, Long Island, Maureen Brainerd-Barnes of Norwich, Conn., and Megan Watermain of Scarborough, ME -- are thought to have been killed between July 2007 and September 2010, with a second murderer dumping at least two others, including Taylor, discovered this spring.

More from the Times:

In a news conference, the Suffolk County district attorney, Thomas Spota, announced that a skull, hands and a forearm discovered along Ocean Parkway on March 29 belonged to Jessica Taylor, 20. The rest of her body was discovered in 2003 in Manorville, about 45 miles to the east.

Mr. Spota said another victim, whom has not been identified but is being referred to as "Jane Doe No. 6," was also found dismembered, her body parts deposited in Manorville and along Ocean Parkway. Her head, right foot and hands were found along Ocean Parkway on April 4, but the rest of her body was discovered on Nov. 19, 2000, in Manorville, in the same part of town where Ms. Taylor's torso was recovered.

These two bodies were "distinctly dissimilar to the four identified Gilgo [Beach] victims." Two more sets of remains are thought to be an Asian male who suffered "a violent death," and a female toddler.

Oh, and then there are two additional unidentified bodies found off of Ocean Parkway, also in Long Island. As if this wasn't grim enough already.

[NYT]