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Police Find Body Believed To Be Missing Long Island Man

GREAT NECK, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- A desperate search for a Long Island man appears to have come to a tragic end on Saturday, as police found a body identified as 65-year-old Great Neck resident Steven Mayer.

Rabbi Dale Polakoff confirmed that the body police found was that of Mayer. Mayer was last seen on October 4.

Mayer's wife, Susan, was distraught and hadn't been able to sleep after her husband went missing while on the way to work.

"It's a nightmare. I mean people don't just disappear," Mrs. Mayer told CBS 2's John Slattery. "This is TV stuff. People just don't disappear into thin air."

Steven Mayer, a businessman, left his home in Great Neck on the morning of October 4, leaving the front door open. He spoke to his office in Huntington to say he was on his way in, and mentioned he was on the LIE, a route he seldom took.

"We know that his last contact when reaching out was from Riverhead, based on triangulation of cell towers," State Senator Craig Johnson told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

"He didn't get off the highway, he shot past his office for some reason, something is happening," Mrs. Mayer said.

Mrs. Mayer said police were able to trace Steven's final phone call Monday afternoon to a cell tower in Riverhead, and the number he called raised concerns about his mental health.

"I believe the last call was made to his deceased parents' phone number," Mrs. Mayer said.

Steven Mayer is a former president of his synagogue in Great Neck, which had mobilized searches and printed posters.

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