The search for missing Irish filmmaker Ross McDonnell came to a tragic end as authorities discovered a body on a beach in Queens, New York. McDonnell, who was last seen on November 4, had been reported missing by his family. The New York Police Department is currently awaiting the results of a DNA test to confirm the identity of the body found.
Law enforcement sources believe that McDonnell may have drowned in the ocean and his body suffered damage before washing ashore on Breezy Point Beach. His locked bike was found near Fort Tilden Beach on November 7. McDonnell, originally from Howth, Ireland, had been living in Brooklyn, New York.
The police are appealing for information about McDonnell’s belongings, which include a red puffy North Face vest, black and white sneakers, dark-colored khaki pants, and a black North Face backpack. They have emphasized that anyone who has picked up these items is not in trouble and they simply want to locate them for clues to McDonnell’s disappearance.
Described as a tall man with an athletic build and a distinctive Irish accent, McDonnell was a highly acclaimed filmmaker and photographer. He was awarded an Emmy in 2021 for his cinematography on the Showtime series ‘The Trade’. McDonnell’s first feature film, ‘Colony’, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award, winning the IDFA First Feature Award. In 2018, he received an Emmy nomination for his directing of the documentary ‘Elian’, a collaboration between Jigsaw Productions, CNN Films, and the BBC.
The news of McDonnell’s tragic death has left the filmmaking community and his fans in shock and mourning. His talent and contributions to the industry will be remembered and celebrated.
