Elected leaders ask for inquiry into potential mishandling of sex trafficking case

Elected leaders on Long Island are asking for an inquiry into how a 14-year-old East Patchogue girl was allegedly sex trafficked while missing for 25 days last year after her family pleaded with county officials for help.

"It's our responsibility as legislators to find out what's going on, and I don't want to be accusatory but I think the No. 1 thing is, what was reported and when was it reported and who found out?" Suffolk Legis. Jason Richberg said.

Looming large over this girl’s case is whether new county safeguards failed after the 2020 killing of 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who was forced to sleep in a freezing garage by his NYPD officer father and his fiancee. "After things that have happened in the past, I think it's important that we ensure that we're doing our due diligence to get those answers," Richberg said.

The Suffolk Legislature's Democratic minority leader said his staff has asked for a briefing on the county's involvement in the girl's case, but has yet to get one. Even before the formal meeting, some new ideas for changes were beginning to emerge, including more education on the issue of sex trafficking for parents and children, and better screening for at-risk youth.

Elected leaders who spoke to Newsday said it was too soon to cast blame on Suffolk County Child Protective Services, one of the agencies that had been involved in the girl’s case before her disappearance.

Michelle DiDio, the girl's stepgrandmother, said Child Protective Services was involved in the case in a letter written to Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine pleading for help from county officials in the months before the teen's disappearance.

Newsday has chronicled the girl’s story in an exclusive investigation called "Unprotected."

Newsday is not naming the girl, now 15, because she is a minor and the victim of alleged and adjudicated sex crimes.

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Southampton Town officials unveiled plans for the renovation of the Red Creek Park skate park in Hampton Bays to a crowd of skateboarders and parents last week to what the town said was an enthusiastic reception. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the plans, which were developed by engineering firm L.K. McLean Associates and custom skate park designers, the Platform Group, were presented to skaters in two potential arrangements, with variations in the obstacles and skating features that were offered. Those interested are being asked to take a survey on the town’s website southamptontownny.gov/survey to share their preferences for the skate park’s final design. The survey will remain live until October 15. The skate park renovation is expected to cost about $1.25 million and will be funded by the Town of Southampton. The work is anticipated to be completed by fall 2026.

Once again for your input on the renovation of Red Creek Park skate park in Hampton Bays visit southamptontownny.gov.

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Saving Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles is a free program being presented this evening at Quogue Wildlife Refuge from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society biologists will review the species of sea turtles found in NY waters and the threats they face during this presentation in the Nature Center. Participants will learn what cold-stunning is and the effect it has on sea turtles, as well as learn how to effectively monitor their local beaches for cold-stunned sea turtles. Learn what to do if you come across a stranded sea turtle this Fall or Winter! This evening’s free program for adults and families begins at 6 p.m. in the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.

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An effort is afoot for the second year in a row to get New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill banning the harvesting of horseshoe crabs for bait and biomedical purposes....