LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — A former Florida state trooper was arraigned in Mineola on Thursday in connection with the chilling homicide of Tanya Denise Jackson, a case that has haunted Long Island for nearly three decades. Andrew Dykes, 66, entered a not guilty plea regarding the 1997 murder, which also involved the tragic death of his infant daughter, Tatiana.
During the brief court session, Dykes was ordered to remain in custody until his next appearance on January 16. His attorney, Joseph Lo Piccolo, indicated that the defense plans to contest DNA evidence purportedly linking Dykes to the crime. He characterized Dykes as a law-abiding citizen who had led a respectable life over the past 30 years.
Jackson, affectionately known as “Peaches,” was found in a Long Island state park with her body dismembered and largely unidentifiable apart from a distinctive tattoo. Authorities discovered her remains under grim circumstances, with her daughter’s body and additional pieces of Jackson found in separate locations on Long Island in subsequent years.
The relationship between Jackson and Dykes began at a military base in Texas, where they met while Dykes was still married. They had a child together, Tatiana Marie Jackson, who was only two years old at the time of her death. Although Dykes has been charged with Tanya’s murder, he has not yet faced charges related to the death of the toddler.
Dykes was apprehended earlier this month in Tampa, Florida, before being extradited to New York to face the charges. The case had been cold for years, but in a breakthrough, investigators identified Jackson through advanced DNA analysis and genealogical research in April. At the time of her disappearance, the 26-year-old Alabama native was living in Brooklyn and had been somewhat disconnected from her family.
Authorities first stumbled upon Jackson and her daughter’s remains while investigating a spate of missing female sex workers along an Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in 2011. As they dug deeper, investigators uncovered a total of 10 sets of human remains, suggesting that the area may have been the site of a serial killer’s activities, although it could also have served as a dumping ground for multiple offenders.
In a separate ongoing investigation, a local architect, Rex Heuermann, faces charges in connection with seven other killings in the area but not those involving Jackson and her daughter. Heuermann is currently awaiting trial while maintaining his innocence.
The complexity and tragedy of Jackson’s case echo the broader issues surrounding missing persons and unsolved murders in the region, shedding light on the urgent need for continued investigative efforts. A significant chapter in this long-standing case has now begun, as both the investigation and legal proceedings continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months.