Officials: Other NY beach corpses were prostitutes

YAPHANK, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities on New York’s Long Island say that they have identified three remaining bodies found near a beach and that it may be the work of a serial killer, after all.

Officials in Suffolk County say the bodies belonged to three women who worked as prostitutes or escorts and advertised online.

They were identified as Maureen Branard-Barnes, of Norwich, Conn.; Melissa Barthelemey, of New York City’s Bronx borough; and Amber Lynn Costello, of North Babylon, on Long Island.

Authorities last week identified the first of the four women as that of a missing Craigslist escort from Maine.

County police initially thought a serial killer was responsible but backed away from that theory. District Attorney Thomas Spota raised the possibility again today.

Officials say they think the women were killed elsewhere and dumped there.