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Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds join search for missing New York Democrat on Long Island
A community-wide search is underway for a rising Democratic star on New York's Long Island who went missing more than a week ago while out exercising. Petros Krommidas, a 29-year-old vying for a seat in the Nassau County legislature, disappeared on April 23, police have said. Now, an estimated 100 volunteers and first responders are searching the beach area, where he is believed to have disappeared. He parked and locked his car by the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach, New York on April 23, grabbed and walked onto the beach to exercise around 10.30 p.m. — 'just as he had done many times before,' his family said in a social media post, noting that he was training for an upcoming triathlon. His family reported him missing the next day and police located his belongings — towel, phone, and clothes — on the beach. He is described as 6'2' tall, 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage print sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. Friends and colleagues have joined the scheduled searches, which have been underway for over a week. Those close to him have described Krommidas, considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, as smart, kind, and close to his family. "I'm friends with this family and it's been nine days of heartbreak and searching and trying to find a beloved son, friend, brother," Leah Russo, a family friend, told WABC on Saturday. Russo called him "very bright, very family-oriented. Very sweet, very 'get the shirt off his back' for anybody." "He is the nicest person you're ever going to meet," Ellen Lederer DeFrancesco, a friend, told the outlet Saturday. "He is community driven, community minded. He will do anything to help anybody. He's the sweetest person, the best way, I used to like to call him my little brother.' Days earlier, Nassau Democratic Elections Commissioner James Scheuermann praised Krommidas' accomplishments and intelligence. Krommidas, who graduated from the private Chaminade High School before heading to Columbia University, has been a Democratic Party field organizer in Nassau County since December 2024, his LinkedIn profile states. Before that, he worked in private equity and investment banking. "Chaminade, Columbia, he was in finance. He could have done anything, and he is choosing to spend his time serving, at 29 years old. That calling is courageous," Scheuermann told CBS News. Adel Elbehiry, his friend and former karate instructor, said Krommidas trained with him for five years and was preparing for his blackbelt: 'Miracles happen, like I told his mom to hold onto the hope," Elbehiry told CBS News. The county's Democratic committee also posted on social media, asking users to spread the word in hopes of finding the 29-year-old. "We are heartbroken over the disappearance of Petros Krommidas," Nassau County Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs told NBC New York. "Petros is a bright, driven young man who has been a strong voice for Democratic values. He is well respected by the community and represents the very best of our next generation of leaders. We are keeping Petros and his family in our prayers and remain hopeful for his safe return.' Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman provided some insights into the investigation, telling WABC: "We are working on parallel tracks. Track number one is that he's still alive and we're looking for information about his whereabouts. Track number two is if he did have a tragic accident, that we can recover the body and make sure that the family is comforted with knowing that you'll be able to provide a proper funeral.' Earlier this week, police told CBS that foul play was not suspected. Authorities have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the police department's missing persons squad at 516-573-7347 or call 911.
New York Post
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Nearly 100 volunteers, rescue personnel join desperate search for missing Long Island Democrat
Nearly 100 volunteers and rescue personnel showed up on Long Island Saturday to continue the frantic search for a missing political candidate who inexplicably vanished last month. Splitting off into pairs, the volunteers set out at 7 a.m. to canvas and comb through Long Beach, where Petros Krommidas, 29, was last seen on April 23 when he went for a training swim, cops and family said. Soon after he went missing, police found the Krommidas' locked car by the Allegria Hotel, just near the beach he had regularly visited to train for a triathlon, his family added. 3 Dozens of volunteers showed up to aid in the desperate search efforts for Petros Krommidas on Long Beach Saturday. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Krommidas – a Democrat who is running for a seat on the Nassau County Board of Legislators – reportedly appeared to have taken a towel with him on the day he disappeared. 'We're sending people out with flyers, we're going to go and canvas the area between Atlantic Beach and Lido Beach and Point Lookout,' Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman told reporters from the beach's parking lot Saturday afternoon. The efforts included ATVs, drones and helicopters, and members of the Marine Bureau in boats, according to Blakeman, who ordered the mobilization of Nassau's Community Emergency Response Team Thursday. 3 Krommidas was last seen on April 23 when he went for a training swim, cops and family said. Instagram / @ 'Every effort will be made,' he said. Blakeman said Krommidas's parents – who were part of the search efforts Saturday, but didn't speak publicly – requested the 'major effort' from county leadership. 'Because they became very concerned as time went by, they knew people would forget … or that – God forbid, if there was a tragedy – that somebody would miss the body,' he explained. 'We want to try and locate the body if it was something that ended in a death,' Blakeman continued. Search leaders were heard telling volunteers to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen in the sunny weather. 3 The search efforts Saturday included ATVs, drones and helicopters, and members of the Marine Bureau in boats, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post 'Don't underestimate talking to people that are walking along the beach,' one advised. 'We're going to keep doing this as long as we can,' another said. If anyone has information related to Krommidas' disappearance, they're asked to call the Nassau County Police Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7717.
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Long Island launches drones in desperate search for missing Democrat whose car, clothes found near beach
Nassau County launched drones in an aerial search for a missing Long Island Democratic candidate whose car and clothes were found near a local beach, officials said Thursday. Petros Krommidas, who is running for a seat on the Nassau Board of Legislators, vanished Wednesday night when he went for a training swim at Long Beach, cops and family said. Petros Krommidas, 29, hasn't been seen since he set off for a training swim last Wednesday night at Long Beach. Advertisement Police later found the 29-year old's locked car by the Allegria Hotel, just near the beach he had regularly visited to train for a triathlon, his family said. He had appeared to have taken a towel with him. County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Thursday he ordered the mobilization of Nassau's Community Emergency Response Team and drone team to conduct an aerial search that began in Atlantic Beach. 'The safety and well-being of our community members is our highest priority, and we are doing everything possible to locate Petros and bring him home safely,' Blakeman said.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Nassau County Legislature candidate Petros Krommidas reported missing
Petros Krommidas, a candidate for the Nassau County Legislature, has been missing for nearly a week. It's believed Krommidas, 29, went swimming in the ocean off the Long Beach boardwalk on the night of April 23. He hasn't been seen since. His clothing and cellphone were found there, and his car was found in the parking lot of the Allegria Hotel on the boardwalk. Krommidas' family said he was training for a triathlon. Loved ones search Long Beach for missing man Friends and family divided into small search parties Tuesday, looking up and down the Long Beach sand, while a Nassau Police helicopter made sweeps of the area from above, following the tides. Adel Elbehiry, Krommidas' friend and former karate instructor, and Beth Shapiro were among the searchers. "He was with me for a good five years. He was preparing for his black belt," Elbehiry said. "Miracles happen, like I told his mom to hold onto the hope." "We woke up this morning knowing that this is what we were going to do. We were gonna come to the beach and look, and we chose one of the spots with high tide," Shapiro said. Missing persons posters now dot the boardwalk. The family asks anyone with any video footage showing Krommidas or other relevant information to call (917) 494-5787 or (646) 996-5154. The Missing Persons squad says foul play is not suspected at this time. Krommidas described as "courageous," brilliant Krommidas, of Baldwin, is a Democratic candidate for the Nassau Legislature. He had been campaigning daily, speaking to groups and getting word out, described as brilliant by Nassau's Democratric Board of Elections commissioner. "Chaminade, Columbia, he was in finance. He could have done anything, and he is choosing to spend his time serving, at 29 years old. That calling is courageous," Nassau Democratic Elections Commissioner James Scheuermann said. In a statement, Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said: "We are heartbroken over the disappearance of Petros Krommidas. Petros is a bright, driven young man who has been a strong voice for Democratic values. He is well respected by the community and represents the very best of our next generation of leaders. We are keeping Petros and his family in our prayers and remain hopeful for his safe return." The election primaries are June 24.
29-04-2025
- Politics
New York county legislature candidate reported missing for almost a week
A New York county legislature candidate has been missing for almost a week, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Petros Krommidas, 29, a Democrat running for the Nassau County legislature's 4th District, was last seen on April 23 in Baldwin, New York, police said. Police said Krommidas was last seen wearing a camouflage print sweatshirt and gray sweatpants and is believed to be in the area of Long Beach, New York. "Please keep searching. We need to find him," Krommidas' sister, Eleni-Lemonia Krommidas, said in a statement on Tuesday. According to his family, Krommidas parked his car by the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach, locked his vehicle, grabbed his towel and walked onto the beach to exercise, "just as he had done many times before," around 10:30 p.m. on April 23. Krommidas was "always in great shape, and has many future plans," including participating in a triathlon, his family said in a statement on Monday. He also was "not a stranger to cold water training," his family said. He was reported missing on April 24, with the family saying it is "completely out of character" for Krommidas not to respond to messages. On April 24, police found Krommidas' towel, clothes and phone left on the beach, officials confirmed to ABC News. Since then, the search efforts have continued, but the family is also encouraging the public to help by walking along the beaches -- specifically areas between Long Beach, Lido Beach and Jacob Riis Park — during high tide. "Every pair of eyes helps. Every step along the beach matters. Thank you for being part of bringing Petey home," the family said. Just two days before his disappearance, Krommidas spoke at a meeting for the Nassau County Young Democrats.
