Florida arrest links man to 1997 Long Island homicide of woman once tied to Gilgo Beach cases

Andrew Dykes, 66, was taken into custody on Wednesday near Tampa, Florida, on a murder warrant issued by Nassau County, New York, in connection with the 1997 killing of Tanya Jackson, authorities said. Dykes appeared before a Hillsborough County judge on Thursday, initiating extradition proceedings that would return him to Long Island to face the charges.

Jackson, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was found dismembered on 28 June 1997 in Lakeview, an unincorporated community in Nassau County. For more than two decades investigators referred to her as “Peaches,” a nickname derived from a tattoo on her torso, because her identity was unknown. The victim’s 2-year-old daughter, Tatiana Dykes, was discovered 14 years later in April 2011, roughly 15 miles away near Gilgo Beach, a site where the remains of multiple women had previously been recovered.

The child’s remains, located in a brushy area off Ocean Parkway, were first cataloged as “Baby Doe.” DNA analysis later confirmed a maternal relationship between the two victims, but their names remained undisclosed until April 2025, when Nassau County police and prosecutors publicly identified them and announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Investigators said genetic genealogy, traditional forensic work, and national databases were used to establish the match.

Dykes, whose address was listed in Hillsborough County records as Lutz, Florida, had not been publicly linked to the investigation before the arrest. Detectives executed the out-of-state warrant with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Booking information shows he is being held without bond while authorities complete the extradition process.

Law enforcement officials have not released a detailed narrative of the evidence that led to the warrant, citing the ongoing prosecution. The Nassau County district attorney’s office declined to provide further comment on the nature of the charges or potential additional counts. It also remains unclear whether investigators believe Tatiana’s death occurred at the same time as her mother’s or under separate circumstances.

The location of the girl’s remains near Gilgo Beach originally prompted speculation that her death might be connected to the string of unsolved homicides sometimes referred to as the Gilgo Beach serial killings. That case gained renewed attention in July 2023 when Suffolk County Police, working with state and federal partners, arrested architectural consultant Rex Heuermann and charged him with seven murders dating to 2009 and 2010. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. Neither he nor any other suspect had been charged in the deaths of Jackson or her daughter.

While Suffolk County authorities continue to investigate the broader Gilgo Beach killings, Nassau County detectives focused on Jackson’s disappearance and death as a separate matter. In announcing the identifications in 2025, officials emphasized the importance of public assistance and forensic advances, including the combined DNA Index System and genealogical research. The investigative techniques employed in the Jackson case are similar to methods described by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for resolving long-term violent crime cases.

According to court records, Dykes is expected to face one count of murder when he is returned to New York. Prosecutors have not said whether additional charges, such as desecration of human remains or concealment of a corpse, will be filed. A timetable for his transfer has not been finalized; Florida law provides the defendant up to 30 days to contest extradition.

Imagem: Internet

Tanya Jackson enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating high school and served at Fort Jackson in South Carolina before relocating to New York. Family members told investigators she was last in contact with relatives in the spring of 1997. Police later recovered her torso, bearing the peach tattoo, in a plastic container discarded in Lakeview. Subsequent searches failed to locate her daughter or identify the suspect.

The discovery of Tatiana’s skeletal remains in 2011 occurred during a series of searches along the southern shore of Long Island after the disappearance of another woman, Shannan Gilbert. Those searches ultimately uncovered at least 10 sets of human remains between 2010 and 2011, launching parallel probes by Suffolk and Nassau County authorities.

Dykes’ arrest adds a new chapter to an investigation that stretched across nearly three decades and multiple jurisdictions. Officials have not indicated whether they believe other individuals were involved or whether the suspect might be linked to any additional cases. Detectives are expected to continue analyzing evidence collected from both crime scenes as the prosecution moves forward.

Anyone with information related to the deaths of Tanya Jackson or Tatiana Dykes can contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The $25,000 reward for information leading to a conviction remains active, according to county officials.

Crédito da imagem: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office / Philip Marcelo-AP