The NYP has moved to quash rumors of a serial killer as New Yorkers speculate over seemingly identical deaths in the same body of water, and washed up body parts in Brooklyn.
Influencers and city residents have been alarmed over the death of Damani Alexander in late July, who was found dead in Newtown Creek, a waterway between Brooklyn and Queens, after spending a night out at The Knockdown Centre, a highly popular partying spot on the border of Queens and Brooklyn.
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His death marks the second summer in a row of one or more people going missing around nightclubs and then being found deceased in Newton Creek.
The NYPD told Newsweek: “The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing.”
In 2023 Karl Clemente and John Castic went missing from the Brooklyn Mirage, a popular nightclub in Williamsburg, and were both found in the same body of water.
First Clemente, 27, went missing from Brooklyn Mirage on June 16th and was found in Newton Creek, then a month later on July 29th, Castic, also 27, disappeared from the same venue and was found dead in the same creek.
According to CBS News, the coroner’s office determined both deaths to be from drowning, one accidental and one undetermined.
The NYPD has declared these deaths to be unconnected. As spokesperson for the NYPD told Newsweek: “Regarding the previous incidents in the 90th Precinct criminality is not suspected.”
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New York City Council Member, Robert Holden, told Newsweek: “My heart goes out to the family of Damani Alexander during this difficult time, and more must be done to prevent future tragedies.”
Fears around nightclub deaths come at the same time that human remains were found in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
ABC News reported on three instances in two weeks of human bones being washed ashore alongside the park. The first two sets of bones belonged to the same person, and the NYPD is yet to test the third finding, and has told Newsweek that the investigation into these body parts is still ongoing.
The NYPD did not comment on whether they believe the Brooklyn Bridge Park incident is connected to the Newton Creek deaths.
Despite the lack of comment from law enforcement, the discovery of bones in the park, alongside the nightclub incidents, have sparked hysteria online about a serial killer stalking the city.
In one TikTok with 544,500 views and 98,200 likes, TikTok user sadboymanii says: “I don’t know what the f*ck is happening in Brooklyn, but it just seems like body after body keep appearing in Brooklyn.”
Another viral video with 146,200 views and 12,900 likes, sees TikTokker Money Bates saying: “The fact that we have an active serial killer in New York, and the fact that I don’t sense any urgency in New York is crazy.”
A killer is labelled a serial killer after murdering three or more people, so if these deaths were connected they would fall under that label. However, law enforcement has not suggested that they are connected in any way.
In order to improve safety around Newton Creek, provided there is no killer on the loose, Council Member Holden has called for action in securing the creek area, such as increasing fencing, limiting access to the creek, and improving lighting in the area.
He added that some of the clubs located near the creek need to take responsibility by installing security barriers and being more cautious when serving alcohol, especially to individuals who may already be intoxicated.
