Local Girl Found Dead on Beach

A local girl was found dead, her body mauled, on a remote section of South Beach early this morning by police after she had gone swimming the night before.

The body was identified to be Chrissie Watson, 17, of 23 Sharkstooth St., Amity, an Amity High School senior, according to the press release, and she was last seen alive leaving a beach party with Christopher P. Hoggenbottam III at about 11 p.m. on Sunday night. 

Hoggenbottam III notified police at about 6 a.m. this morning when Watson hadn’t returned from the water, and Watson’s body was found by Police Deputy Jay Hendricks after a brief search of the section of South Beach near the South Beach Shoal bell buoy. 

According to Amity Police Chief Martin Brody there is still no information from the coroner yet and the police are still waiting for word about the autopsy.  No charges have been filed in the case, and police are continuing their investigation into who or what attacked and killed Watson.

 “Though a shark attack has not been completely ruled out, we want to assure all residents and visitors on our fine island that they are in no danger,” Brody said in the press release.  “Our lovely beaches will remain open for swimming pending the outcome of the investigation.” 

Brody later said at a press conference that police investigators are “exploring an entire range of possibilities” into the reason for her death.  Some of these possibilities include being attacked by a pack of wild dogs, which are known to roam around the area, or being assaulted by an individual or a group, Brody said. 

Police investigators have learned from witnesses that both Watson and Hoggenbottam, who is sophomore at Trinity College and a former resident of the island, had been drinking heavily and possibly smoking marijuana before they left the party.  Hoggenbottam did not see the actual attack as he had passed out on the beach and did not wake up until this morning, at which point he called police. 

Brody saw Watson’s body this morning and described the scene as “extremely grizzly and upsetting.” 

“There was a hand sticking up from a pile of sand and seaweed,” Brody said.  “Crabs were crawling all around.”    

The seas were calm Sunday night with clear skies and winds out of the south at about 3.45 mph.  The air temperature was 72 degrees F and the air temperature was 65 degrees F. 

Watson was a member of the varsity swim team at Amity High School and a lifeguard at the Amity Island YMCA pool in Oak Bluffs.