CRISTABELLE TUMOLA, TERENCE CULLEN, ANGY ALTAMIRANO AND MAGGIE HAYES
Authorities continue to search the College Point site this weekend where human remains and clothing possibly belonging to missing teen Avonte Oquendo were found, as tests are underway to determine the body’s identity.
The search began when a passerby found an arm and legs Thursday near Powell Cove Boulevard and Endeavor Place about 7:15 p.m.
Police later turned up jaw, shoulder, collar and pelvic bones, ribs and several vertebrae, the NYPD said.
Another arm was additionally recovered over the weekend and the search is continuing Sunday, according to published reports.
A pair of size 16 jeans and size 5 ½ Air Jordan sneakers were found with the remains, matching those belonging to Avonte, said David Perecman, the family’s lawyer.
Authorities also recovered a white shirt with gray stripes similar to what Avonte was wearing when he went missing, according to police.
Tests to determine if the body is Avonte will take “days,” cops said Friday.
Avonte was last seen at the Center Boulevard School at 1-50 51st Ave. in Long Island City around 12:38 p.m. on Oct. 4. The school is just across from the East River.
His mother, Vanessa Fontaine, said her 14-year-old son is afraid of the water and thought he “wouldn’t go near it.”
There have been conflicting reports on how the Rego Park teen, who cannot verbally communicate and is supposed to be supervised at all times, managed to leave the school.
Perecman will file suit on Monday, seeking $25 million in a civil suit focused against the Department of Education and school safety.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
- Driver charged after fatally striking woman in Maspeth
- Suspect wanted for groping teen on No. 7 train
- Man fatally stabbed in Glendale