Tragic Death on South Beach

Amity Island -The Amity Village Police Department is investigating the tragic and untimely death of a teenage girl at South Beach on Amity Island Sunday night.

Christine Watson, a senior at Amity High School, was last seen at a beach party with Christopher Hoggenbottam, former island resident who is currently a sophomore at Trinity College.

Watson, a member of the varsity swim team at Amity High School as well as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Oak Bluffs, entered the water near the South beach Shoal bell buoy, Hoggenbottam told the police.

Hoggenbottam contacted the police around 6 a.m. when Watson did not return from the water. After a searching the beach early Monday morning, police found Watson’s body washed up on shore. Her body shows signs of serious injury from an unknown attacker and was taken to the coroner’s office for a full autopsy.

Dr. Robert Nevin performed the autopsy on Watson’s body and reported that it was “severely mangled” and has wounds “consistent with [prior] boating accidents.”

“It was a calm clear night when fishers often go out,” Nevin said.

In his thirty years as a medical examiner in Amity, Nevins said he has seen many accidents and Watson’s body appears to follow the typical signs of being attacked by a motor propeller

Despite the medical examination, Police Chief Martin Brody said that no possibility is being ruled out. “We just don’t know,” Brody continued.

Brody said in a press release Monday morning that “although 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.”

Investigators have learned from witnesses Sunday night that both Hoggenbottam and Watson showed signs of heavy drinking and possibly smoking marijuana.

The police have not yet filed charges and are continuing to investigate the incident. Police are interviewing all boaters who were out in the harbor last night, Brody reported. The harbor master’s records as well as the Amity webcam will also be reviewed.

“Our lovely beaches will remain open for swimming pending the outcome of the investigation,” Brody said.