Chrissie Watson

                The Amity Village Police Department is investigating the tragic death of a teenage girl after finding her body on one of the local beaches early Monday morning.

                Amity Police Deputy Jay Hendricks was said to have found the body of Amity High School senior Chrissie Watson, 17, after a brief search. According to a press release from Amity Police Chief Martin Brody, Watson had been severely mauled by an attacked of an unknown origin. Currently, police have no suspects.

                “We have no suspects whatsoever,” Chief Brody said. “We’re not looking at any suspects at this point.”

                Watson’s body has been transported to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. Charges have yet to be filed on the case, as police continue their investigation on the incident.

                According to Police Chief Brody, authorities were informed by Christopher P. Hoggenbottam III, a sophomore at Trinity College and former resident of the island, at around 6 a.m. that Watson had gone missing.

                Witnesses told authorities that Watson was last seen leaving a beach party Sunday night at around 11 p.m. with a young man, who was later identified as Hoggenbottam. According to those at the party, both Hoggenbottam and Watson had been drinking heavily during the evening. Police also have reason to believe that illicit drugs may have been used as well.

According to Hoggenbottam, Watson decided that the duo should go swimming. Hoggenbottam told police that the two were at a remote section of South Beach near the South Beach Shoal bell buoy. When Watson never returned from the water, Hoggenbottam said, he made sure to notify the authorities.

Brody made it clear that the police department does not believe this incident was a shark attack, but Brody also said that that scenario has not been ruled out.

“There hasn’t been a shark attack in years and years and years, if ever” Brody said. “There is no evidence whatsoever that this is a shark attack. It can’t be completely ruled out, but there’s no particular reason to think it’s a shark attack.”

Brody went on to add that the all residents and visitors of Amity Village should rest assured that they are in no danger, and that beaches will remain open for swimming pending the outcome of the investigation.