Mother and Daughter Identified After Decades in Unsold Gilgo Beach Case

MINEOLA, N.Y. — Authorities identified a woman and her child whose remains were found along an oceanfront highway near Long Island’s Gilgo Beach, nearly 30 years after they went missing. Police announced the identities Wednesday, April 23, 2025, during a press briefing.

The victims were identified as Tanya Denise Jackson, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran, and her 2-year-old daughter, Tatiana Marie Dykes. Both were living in Brooklyn before their disappearance.

Investigators assigned the nickname “Peaches” to Jackson due to a tattoo on her body. Police indicated that DNA evidence and advanced genetic research played a crucial role in their identifications. They urged anyone with information about the two to contact law enforcement.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated, “The reality is our work has just begun. Knowing the identities of the mom and the little baby is just a first step to help us solve these murders.” Some of Jackson’s remains were found stuffed in a plastic tub at Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997, while others were uncovered off Ocean Parkway in 2011.

Police confirmed that Jackson and Dykes were related through DNA analysis. Although the two have frequently been linked to the Gilgo Beach homicides involving several victims, authorities caution against assumptions. Homicide Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick noted, “Speculation should not be brought into this.”

Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, has been charged in connection with seven women found dead nearby but has pleaded not guilty. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office is not commenting on the connection between Heuermann’s cases and the recent identifications.

As the investigation continues, officials have said they are exploring all possibilities concerning the deaths of Jackson and Dykes, while also focusing on how they were killed. “Did you serve with her? Were you their friend? We want to hear from you,” Fitzpatrick urged.

The identities of Tanya and Tatiana represent significant progress in a long-unsolved case, as they were among several sets of remains connected to the ongoing investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders.