Theory Emerges After Three Sisters Were Found in Waters Near Brighton Beach

Questions continue to surround the final hours of three sisters who were found in the waters near Brighton Beach, as investigators reportedly examine a troubling new theory.

As police continue retracing the women's final hours, new details are drawing attention to a stretch of shoreline locals have warned about for years.

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, all from the Uxbridge area of London, were found dead near Black Rock car park during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The incident quickly sent shockwaves through Brighton and beyond, with authorities launching an extensive investigation into what happened that night.

Investigators Piece Together Final Hours

According to Fox News, specialist detectives are reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage while tracing the sisters' final movements across Brighton.

Police also appealed to the public for information from anyone who may have seen the women near Madeira Drive between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said investigators would "leave no stone unturned" as they work to determine what led to the incident. He later urged privacy for the family as the investigation continues, describing the situation as a "terrible tragedy."

The Theory Investigators Are Examining

While authorities have not confirmed an official cause, a possible explanation has reportedly emerged around the conditions beneath the waterline near Brighton Beach.

According to the Daily Star, detectives are believed to be examining whether at least one of the sisters ventured too far into the sea before losing footing as the shingle shifted beneath them.

Coastguards reportedly suspect the women may have been dragged from the shoreline after tumbling over an underwater ledge hidden beneath the surface.

Residents familiar with the area have long warned that the seabed near Brighton drops sharply just offshore. The slope is said to become particularly dangerous near Palace Pier, where the shingle incline is steepest.

Warnings are frequently issued to tourists and visitors about entering the water too far from shore, especially during changing tide conditions.

The reported theory has drawn widespread attention online as many try to understand how such a devastating incident could happen so close to a busy tourist destination.

Father Shares Emotional Tribute

As investigators continue their work, the sisters' father has shared a heartbreaking public statement honoring his daughters.

"Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters — Jane, Christina, and Becky — whose lives ended so tragically far too soon," Joseph said.

He described the sisters as "my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love."

Joseph later added, "Though you are no longer here beside us, your spirits live on in our hearts every day. Love like yours never dies. You will forever remain a part of our lives, our prayers, and our memories."

The tribute quickly spread online as people across the U.K. responded with messages of sympathy and support for the family.

Family Faces Another Heartbreaking Task

An online GoFundMe page later revealed the family is also facing the emotional and financial burden of arranging funerals for all three sisters.

The fundraiser, created on behalf of Joseph and the family, described the situation as an "unimaginable tragedy." "No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone all three," the page stated.

The appeal explained that the family is still trying to process what happened while organizing "the loving and dignified farewell they deserve."

As police continue reviewing evidence and retracing the sisters’ final hours, many questions remain unanswered — especially surrounding the conditions near the shoreline where the women were last seen.

As investigators continue working to piece together what happened along the Brighton shoreline, another devastating incident involving a sudden public hazard has also left a family searching for answers — this time on a busy Manhattan street.

Donike Gocaj, 56, a grandmother from Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, had just parked her Mercedes on a Manhattan street on the night of Monday, May 18, 2026, less than a block from one of the most expensive storefronts in the city. She never made it to her destination.

Where Was She, and What Did She Walk Into?

The stretch of East 52nd Street where Gocaj parked sits directly outside Cartier's flagship New York City store, one of Midtown Manhattan's most recognizable blocks. It was nearly 11:20 p.m., the street was dark, and there was nothing to warn her of what lay just beyond her car door.

Fire safety director Carlton Wood was on his way to work when he watched Gocaj step out of her vehicle, close the door behind her, and take a single step forward.

A moment later, she dropped 10 feet into an uncovered drain below, disappearing from sight instantly. Of course, Wood's instincts kicked right in, and he ran toward the hole.

He found her sitting at the bottom in a steaming hot puddle of water, legs stretched forward, looking up and begging for help.

What Did Bystanders Do to Try to Save Her?

Wood called 911 while other witnesses at the scene scrambled to act. Several people attempted to lower a man into the hole by his arms, hoping Gocaj could grab onto his feet and be pulled to safety, but the depth made it impossible.

Someone retrieved a ladder from their car, only to find it was too large to fit into the opening. Every attempt to reach her came up short, and the clock was moving. Through all of it, Wood could hear her voice rising from the darkness below.

By the time he got off the phone with 911 a few minutes later and rejoined the group, trying to hold the would-be rescuer steady, Gocaj had been repeating the same thing over and over: "I'm dying, I'm dying." Those were the last words anyone would hear her speak.

What Happened When Emergency Services Arrived?

Gocaj had lost consciousness before paramedics and the FDNY even arrived on scene. Firefighters spent roughly 20 minutes extracting her from the manhole.

When she was finally brought out and placed on a stretcher, Wood said her legs appeared black and badly burned, as though they had been severely scalded by the steaming water below.

The grandmother was transported to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was unfortunately pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York will determine her official cause of death.

Why Was the Manhole Left Uncovered?

The manhole cover was found lying about 15 feet away from the opening. There were no safety warning devices, according to Wood. He also made it clear that Gocaj didn't do anything wrong.

"There were no cones, no barricades, no signs. She wasn't on her phone and didn't seem distracted at all. It was dark and unfortunately she just didn't see the hole. It could have happened to anyone."

Gocaj's family, visibly shaken at the scene the following day, echoed that account. Her daughter-in-law told CBS there were absolutely no barriers or signage around the open hole, and the family demanded answers about how it had been left that way.

New York City baked in 86°F heat that Monday, which sparked speculation about whether the temperature could have caused the cover to dislodge on its own.

But Con Edison, the company that maintains tens of thousands of manholes across the city, later reviewed surveillance footage and landed on a different explanation entirely.

What Did Con Edison's Investigation Reveal?

According to a statement obtained by People, the cover was dislodged when a multi-axle truck turning from 5th Avenue onto 52nd Street drove over it. Approximately 12 minutes later, Gocaj parked her car nearby and stepped out into the unguarded opening.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole. We are actively investigating how this occurred," Con Edison said, adding that its thoughts remain with her family and that safety is its top priority.

City regulations require that any uncovered street openings be barricaded and clearly marked with flags, lights, or signs. Contractors are also mandated to temporarily cover any manholes being worked on outside of regular hours.

Whether any work had been conducted at that location in the hours before Gocaj fell remains unclear, but no criminal activity is suspected at this time.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection manages roughly 100,000 active manholes across the city. The New York Times reports that the department has already received more than 700 service requests regarding open manholes so far in 2026.

Workers have since covered the gap with a metal grate, and barriers and cones have been placed around the scene.

What Did City Officials Say?

The Mayor's Office, currently held by Zohran Mamdani, addressed the tragedy directly, and its statement left little room for ambiguity about the city's responsibility to follow through.

"Our condolences are with the family of the woman who lost her life in this devastating incident," the office said. "City agencies are working with Con Ed to support the emergency response and conduct a full investigation into what occurred. Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again."

For Gocaj's family, the answers cannot come soon enough. We offer our condolences to them during this difficult time.