Cops Still Baffled by Ocean Beach Drowning Death
Volume 49, Issue 9
By David Crohn

No foul play is suspected in the death of an upstate woman whose body was found in the rough surf in Ocean Beach on July 26.

Nikita Dhuria Singh, 30, of the town of Chester in Orange County, was reported missing by her family July 25. She was found by bathers near Bayberry Walk the next day at about 1 p.m.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning, with no other significant injuries, although eyewitnesses said they saw a large gash on her forehead.

Singh was last seen leaving her job at a family-run store in Middletown and boarding an Ocean Beach-bound ferry in Bay Shore at 8 p.m. the day she was reported missing. Family and police said she was upset or in a strange mood around the time of her disappearance.

She was married with one son.

Beachgoers—including many small children and swimmers—were shocked three weeks ago when a woman was said to have screamed when Singh’s body appeared in the water nearby, fully clothed. She had on tan jeans and a white T-shirt with American flags shaped like butterflies.

Lifeguards and EMS responded and attempted CPR on the apparently lifeless body.

“The lifeguards were right on it. The response from the police was very quick. The lifeguards were doing a good job all day,” said Ignacio Vazquez, an electrician from Medford who was spending the day at the beach with his family.

He added, “It was a beautiful day and an unfortunate situation.”

Singh was removed from the island, via ferry, by Suffolk County officials at about 4 p.m. that day.

As of press time Tuesday, investigators have been unable to determine what she was doing in Ocean Beach, said Officer Heidi Cummings, a Suffolk County Police spokeswoman.