Amity Village Teen Found Dead on Shore of South Beach

Shortly after 6 A.M. this morning the body of 17 year old Christine W. Watson, a senior at Amity High School was found washed up on the shore South Beach.

Watson’s body was horribly mangled by an unknown attacker and has been sent to the coroner’s office for an autopsy.  Dr. Robert Nevin, the Amity Ville Medical Examiner stated that the wounds are consistent with a motor boating accident.

The police are continuing their investigation into what happened, and no charges have yet been filed.  However they are interviewing sailors with boats near South Beach, and looking at the harbor master’s log in an attempt to determine if any boats had been in the area.

According to Amity Police Chief Martin Brody, “nothing has been ruled out” including a shark attack. But Brody also stated in a press release that no residents and visitors are in danger.  The beaches of Amity shall remain open for swimming pending the investigation’s outcome.

Mayor Larry Vaughn said that there was no evidence of a shark attack and that there is no need for additional precautions for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

Watson was last seen departing from a beach party at approximately 11 P.M. with former Amity resident Christopher Hoggenbottam III, a sophomore at Trinity College.  According to witnesses at the beach party both Watson and Hoggenbottam had been heavily drinking, and possibly smoking marijuana.

Hoggenbottam told police that Watson, a member of the varsity swim team and a lifeguard at the Amity Island YMCA pool, decided to go swimming.  She entered the water at a remote section of South Beach near the South Beach Shoal bell buoy.

After Watson did not return from the water Hoggenbottam notified the police, and after a brief search Watson’s body was discovered.

The weather was clear with a temperature of 72 degrees F, and the sea was calm.  Water temperature was 65 degrees F and the winds were from the south at approximately 3 knots.

Anyone with additional information should contact Police Chief Brody at brodyman@beachcop.com.