The horrifying case of 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi, a Long Island girl who was kidnapped and subjected to a sex trafficking scheme, has taken a new turn with a 75-count grand jury indictment being handed down to nine individuals allegedly involved in her abduction. The shocking court documents detail the unspeakable abuse that Emma endured before being rescued by her father, Frank Gervasi, from a docked boat on an Islip pier after being missing for 25 days.
Alton Harrell, 35, reportedly abducted Emma from her home in Patchogue on December 9 and took her to an abandoned house in Bellport, where he is charged with first-degree kidnapping. Kevin McDonald, 20, from Medford, is accused of sexually assaulting Emma and then taking her to a motel in Bohemia. He is facing charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
Daniel Burke, 63, of Bohemia, and Francis Buckheit, 64, of East Islip, are also facing first-degree kidnapping charges for their alleged roles in the abduction. Robert Eccleston, 61, of Islip, is charged with raping Emma before she was taken onto a boat in Islip’s White Cap Marina, where she was reportedly raped by several men and sold for drugs by two women.
Elizabeth Hunter, Jacquelyn Comiskey, and Bunice Knight are among the accused who are facing charges related to child sex trafficking and promoting prostitution. Ralph Knowles, 63, of Brentwood, has been charged with rape and other offenses for his involvement in the case.
In addition to the nine individuals named in the indictment, three others have been arrested in connection with the case. Daniel Soto, DeShaun McClean, and Rebecca Browell are facing various charges related to the abduction and exploitation of Emma.
The accused will appear in Riverhead’s Suffolk Supreme Court to face the charges brought against them. The case has shocked the community and shed light on the dark reality of sex trafficking and exploitation of minors. The legal proceedings will hopefully bring justice to Emma and ensure that those responsible for her ordeal are held accountable for their actions.
