Mother, daughter scattered remains found along highway may be linked to Gilgo Beach serial killer, police say

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - A woman and her toddler, whose remains were scattered along an oceanfront highway near victims of Long Island’s infamous Gilgo Beach killings, were identified after nearly 28 years.

New York authorities held a press conference Wednesday and identified the victims as 26-year-old Tanya Jackson and her daughter 2-year-old Tatiana Dykes through DNA and genealogy research.

What started with a horrifying discovery of Jackson’s torso in 1997 was just the beginning. For years, Jackson was only known as ‘Peaches’ because of a tattoo she had.

Investigators said Jackson was an army veteran from Mobile, Alabama, and had been living in Brooklyn with her daughter when they were killed.

Some of Jackson’s remains were discovered on June 28, 1997, stuffed inside a plastic tub in a state park in West Hempstead on Long Island. More remains, and the skeletal remains of Tatiana, were found off Ocean Parkway in April 2011.

There has also been speculation whether or not these homicides have anything to do with the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, but police have not been able to confirm that.

Officials said they had spoken with the child’s father, who was cooperating with the investigation and not considered a suspect at this time.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the break in the case spurs them forward.

“We will follow every lead,” said Donnelly. “We will pull at every thread until we can get justice for this mother and this child.”

Nassau Police said they’re offering a $25,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest.