A Florida resident was apprehended this week in a years-old murder case that shook Long Island: the 1997 killings of a mother and her 2-year-old daughter — once thought to be linked to the notorious Gilgo Beach serial slayings. The arrest, coming more than two decades after the crime, follows renewed investigative efforts after the victims were finally identified earlier this year through genetic genealogy.
Arrest of 66-Year-Old Raises New Hope for Old Cold Case
Authorities say the suspect — a 66-year-old man living in Tampa, Florida — was taken into custody on a warrant issued by Nassau County, New York. The warrant relates to the 1997 murder of the woman, then 26, and her toddler daughter. He appeared before a judge in Florida on December 4.
For decades, the victims were unidentified: the mother was known only as “Peaches,” a moniker given because of a distinctive peach-shaped tattoo found on her body; her daughter was referred to as “Baby Doe.” In April 2025, investigators formally confirmed their identities: the mother as a U.S. Army veteran, and the toddler daughter as her child.
Case Long Tied to Gilgo Beach Murders — But Separate Charges
The mother and child’s remains were discovered along Long Island’s coastline, leading many to believe their deaths were part of the wider Gilgo Beach serial killings. However, the suspect now arrested has not been charged in connection with other Gilgo Beach victims. Prosecutors appear to treat this as a distinct murder case rather than part of the serial-killer prosecution.
Victims Identified — Cold Case Renewed After Decades
The breakthrough came earlier in 2025, when genetic genealogy and DNA testing identified the mother and her daughter after nearly 30 years of uncertainty. The mother was confirmed as a former U.S. Army service member; her daughter was recognized as a 2-year-old whose remains had lain unidentified for years.
Following that identification, authorities renewed public appeals for information — including a $25,000 reward — which reportedly helped generate leads leading to this week’s arrest.
