Cops: St. James Man Dumped Corpse in Manorville Hills Park

A St. James man was arrested after disposing a woman's body in the woods at Manorville Hills County Park in February, according to police.

Police said Matthew Krauss, 34, of St. James, dumped the body of Pura Simancas, 45, of Central Islip, between Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 in the woods at Manorville Hills County Park after they had used heroin and taken Xanax.

Krauss was charged under the New York State Public Health Law for dumping the body of Simancas, a misdemeanor crime.

that police said a jogger found a body in Manorville Hills County Park at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, south of exit 70 off the Long Island Expressway. Police also said they couldn't put an exact amount of time that they believe the body had been in the woods but the body was there for at least a week and "not an incredibly long time."

Robert Clifford, spokesman for District Attorney Thoams Spota, confirmed Friday afternoon that Krauss gave police a statement admitting to disposing of Simancas' body. The office also confirmed that Krauss pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in district court Friday and is being held on $25,000 cash bail, $50,000 bond.

Suffolk County Police are continuing the investigation.

Associate Regional Editor Joseph Pinciaro contributed to the story.