Body Washes Up on Rockaway Beach: Missing Irish Filmmaker Ross McDonnell Believed to Be Victim
Authorities are investigating the discovery of a headless, armless body that washed up on Rockaway Beach in New York. Police sources have revealed that the remains may be that of missing Irish filmmaker Ross McDonnell, who was reported missing over two weeks ago. McDonnell, an Emmy Award-winning visual artist known for his love of the ocean, vanished on November 4 after riding his bike to the Rockaways, a short distance from where the body was found.
Detectives are awaiting the results of a DNA comparison to confirm the identity of the deceased. However, they strongly believe it to be McDonnell’s torso. It is suspected that the body may have been dismembered in the ocean by the sharp rocks, waves, and local marine life over the span of two weeks.
The Rockaways, located in Queens, have notably been visited by sharks in the past, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of marine predators playing a role in the dismemberment. Sharks have been spotted in the waters off Rockaway Beach and Coney Island, and great whites were reported in the Atlantic off Massachusetts as recently as early November.
The torso and legs were discovered near the Silver Gull Beach Club within the federally owned Gateway National Recreation Area. McDonnell, 44, resided in Bedford-Stuyvesant and regularly traveled to Ireland for work.
On the day McDonnell went missing, he had taken photographs at an anti-war march in the city and attended a show. He left his home around 8:30 p.m. and headed towards the Rockaways on his bicycle, according to friends and colleagues. McDonnell’s friends grew concerned when he failed to follow up on dinner plans and ultimately reported him missing to the police.
Described as an accomplished photographer, director, cinematographer, and producer, McDonnell was awarded an Emmy for cinematography on the Showtime docuseries The Trade in 2021. In 2018, he received a director Emmy nomination for the feature-length documentary Elian, produced by CNN films.
Friends and loved ones have expressed their anguish over McDonnell’s disappearance, with many taking to social media to ask for information about his whereabouts. Longtime friend Alexander Kellum described McDonnell as an incredible human and asked for prayers. The city Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, providing further insight into this tragic case.
The mystery surrounding the discovery of the headless, armless body on Rockaway Beach continues to grip both local and international communities. As authorities await the DNA results to confirm the identity of the victim, the loss of Ross McDonnell, a talented and renowned filmmaker, leaves a void not only within his family and close friends but also in the world of photography and filmmaking.
