Long Island man used axe to dismember missing woman: DA

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A Long Island man has been accused of dismembering a woman and scattering her remains at multiple locations, the Suffolk County D.A.'s Office said Tuesday.

Gary Cowell, 72, of Patchogue, was arraigned Monday on charges of unlawful concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence. He pleaded not guilty, according to Newsday .

He allegedly dismembered a 56-year-old Patchogue woman, Yvette Leonard, who'd been missing since June 13.

After Leonard was reported missing on June 18, detectives interviewed Cowell, who is believed to be the last person to have seen her alive.

During the interview, Cowell accompanied detectives as they recovered her dismembered remains, which had been strewn across three locations in Patchogue, prosecutors said. The remains were reportedly found along Montauk Highway.

The detectives also recovered an axe used to dismember her, as well as other evidence from Cowell's home, according to prosecutors.

The medical examiner has not yet issued a cause of death as the investigation continues.

According to Newsday, prosecutors described Cowell as a "longtime acquittance" of Leonard and said they believe she died in his presence before her dismemberment.

Cowell was ordered held on a $1 million cash bail. He's due back in court on July 25.

Cowell's attorney contended that he helped the investigators, speaking with them for nine hours.