• Human remains were discovered inside a submerged PT Cruiser at Cedar Beach, Long Island. This discovery is possibly linked to Robert Long, who vanished in 2010.
• Divers Dan Pritchard and Bill McIntosh made the discovery using sonar-equipped kayaks. They were on a mission to find missing persons.
• Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to confirm the identity. Meanwhile, the discovery brings hope of closure for Long’s family after 15 years.

A haunting discovery off the coast of Long Island may finally bring closure to a mystery that has haunted a local family for 15 years.

On Monday morning, a sun-bleached Chrysler PT Cruiser was pulled from the murky waters near Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. The vehicle was covered in barnacles and silt. Inside the vehicle, search divers found what appears to be human remains. Now, investigators believe the car could be tied to the 2010 disappearance of 62-year-old Robert Long. He was a Long Island man who vanished without a trace after heading out on a quick errand.

The discovery is stirring both emotions and renewed questions. Family members, law enforcement, and the public grapple with the possibility of long-awaited answers.

Discovery by Passionate Civilian Divers Leads to New Break in the Case

The discovery wasn’t made by police or local officials. Instead, it came from two independent divers — Dan Pritchard and Bill McIntosh. They have spent the last few years dedicating their lives to finding the lost.

Pritchard and McIntosh are not your average hobby divers. Armed with sonar equipment strapped to kayaks and an unwavering sense of mission, the duo travel across the country — and increasingly the world. They are searching for people who have disappeared in connection with submerged vehicles. Their efforts are often voluntary and fueled by determination more than money.

“We always hope for good news, but in these cases, it’s about truth, not miracles,” Pritchard told a local radio station. “As hard as it is, it’s better for families to know what happened than to go on wondering.”

On this particular day, the men had planned to investigate four specific areas along Long Island’s coastline. Cedar Beach was simply first on their list.

As the sonar scans swept the ocean floor, the outline of a car slowly emerged on their monitor. Hours later, they found themselves peering into the murky window of a PT Cruiser. Inside, it seemed there were skeletal remains. That’s when they called police.

Police Join Efforts, Confirm Human Remains Found in Car

By early afternoon, Suffolk County Police’s Marine Bureau divers were on the scene. Working with the tide, they carefully entered the water to examine the car’s interior. After confirming the presence of human remains, they used a crane to hoist the vehicle onto dry land for further inspection.

Detective Lieutenant Kevin Beyrer told reporters that while an identification had not been officially made, there is strong reason to believe the remains may belong to Robert Long. He went missing in December 2010. At the time, Long had left his home for a quick trip to a local liquor store and never returned. His car — a Chrysler PT Cruiser — vanished along with him.

“There is a missing person who we suspect this driver to be,” Beyrer confirmed. “We made a courtesy notification to the family, but the identification will ultimately come from the Medical Examiner’s Office.”

An autopsy is now underway to confirm the identity and determine how the person died.

Long Family Finally Closer to Answers After 15 Years of Silence

The Long family has never stopped searching for Robert. For over a decade, they’ve posted flyers, spoken with media outlets, and urged authorities to keep the case open. While they have not yet publicly commented on this latest development, sources close to the family say they’ve been informed of the discovery. They are awaiting confirmation with cautious hope.

Neighbors and friends in the Mount Sinai area are also reacting to the news, some with heartbreak, others with relief. One local woman said, “We always wondered if something happened in the water, but no one ever found anything. Maybe now the family can get some peace.”

Another community member called the divers “heroes,” thanking them for doing what no one else could.

Divers Say Dozens More Could Be Waiting to Be Found

Pritchard and McIntosh have no intention of slowing down. They believe there could be as many as 50 more cases like this waiting to be solved. Many involve submerged vehicles hidden beneath murky lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Their current trip has already produced three car recoveries. For McIntosh, this marks the 16th vehicle he’s located since 2020.

Each recovery is personal for the team. They don’t just dive for the thrill — they dive for the families.

“When you find a person and bring them home, you close a chapter in someone’s life,” McIntosh told Newsday. “That’s what this is all about. Giving people hope, or at the very least, giving them answers.”

Their next stops include several more locations on Long Island. After that, they plan to head farther south along the East Coast.

As authorities work to confirm the identity of the remains, they piece together what happened on that fateful December day in 2010. One thing is clear: This case, once cold and forgotten, is now back in the spotlight. With it comes the possibility of justice, closure, and healing for a family that has waited far too long.