Who Is Ross McDonnell? Headless Body on Beach Feared To Be Emmy-Winner

A headless body without arms found on a New York City beach is feared to be Emmy-winning filmmaker and photographer Ross McDonnell.

McDonnell, 44, originally from Dublin, Ireland, was seen leaving his home in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, on the night of November 4. His bicycle was found at Fort Tilden Beach, Queens, on November 7.

Concerns for McDonnell grew after the NYPD said a human torso was found at Breezy Point Beach, just southwest of Fort Tilden Beach, on Friday, November 17.

"Upon arrival, officers observed an unidentified, human torso with attached legs discovered laying on the sand at the above location," a spokesperson at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information told Newsweek.

"EMS responded and pronounced the aided deceased at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The identity of the deceased is pending proper family notification."

The DCPI told Newsweek on Monday morning that there were no updates regarding the identification of the human remains.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York has been contacted for comment via email.

Gene Gallerano, one of McDonnell's close friends, told The Irish Times that the filmmaker "went out into the ocean" and was not seen afterward.

"He was last seen last Saturday night, the alarm was sounded on Sunday, we don't know more than that," Gallerano said in the November 12 report. "It's been a very, very emotionally heavy week."

According to his website, McDonnell won an Emmy award for cinematography on the Showtime series The Trade in 2019.

In 2019, McDonnell was shortlisted for the Prix Pictet Photography award in its cycle 'Hope.' His work was exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

McDonnell's debut feature film Colony premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam's first feature award in addition to an Irish Film and Television Award nomination.

The Shala Yoga studio in Brooklyn said McDonnell was a member in a November 16 Facebook post.

"The Shala is deeply saddened by the news that a beloved student, Ross McDonnell, has been missing since early November," the post said.

"We know Ross as a kind, sensitive, and loving member of our community. We are thinking about his sincerity and dedication to his yoga practice. Our love and prayers go to Ross, his family, and friends."