Skeleton found in the basement of Lake Grove decades after the death of its owner

LAKE GROVE, Long Island (WABC) –

A skeleton was discovered in the basement of a Long Island home Wednesday, 57 years after the disappearance of a man who lived there.

Police said that George Carroll's two grown children found human remains during the basement search of Olive Street House in Lake Grove.

George Carroll has been missing since 1961, six years after the family's purchase of the house.

Michael Carroll told Eyewitness News that rumors have been circulating in the family for years that his father could be buried in the basement. He disappeared when Michael was 8 months old and it looks like he's gone "to do something" and never came back.

"It did not happen overnight, it's been talked about for years," he said. "It's something that has grown, you know, we've heard several stories."

The excavation work of the basement began a few years ago, but Michael Carroll said that they had become too dangerous and that they had to stop them. It has recently resumed with better search technology and the remains have been found.

The DNA tests will be used to identify the remains, so for now, Michael can not say for sure that it's about his father. But he believes that's it.

"I am very happy that my father is free of this shabby hole," he said.

He stated that his father had fought during the Korean War and that he would like to bury him at Calverton National Cemetery.

"I want him to be a soldier," he said. "I want him to get what he needs."

The remains were found about 6 to 8 feet deep and Michael stated that he was not surprised to have found them. He said that he always believed that his father was in the basement.

"In my head, I always felt that I was going to find that," he said. "I'm glad it's over and I do not need to break my house anymore."

If it is his father, he said that he thought he had an idea who could be responsible. He did not want to elaborate, but he said anyone who could have been involved is dead for a long time.

The authorities also do not know if George Carroll has been officially reported missing.

The mother is dead and the siblings own the house.
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