Woman's hand found in Hyde Park

BUFFALO, N.Y (WIVB) - Niagara Falls Police and State Police were called to Duck Island in Hyde Park on Sunday where they found a human hand.

Niagara Falls Superintendent John Chella confirmed the discovery was Loretta Gate's hand, verified through finger print testing. A citizen found her hand around 1 p.m. on Sunday after spotting a bag floating in the lake and pulling it to shore.

Shortly after, State Police and Niagara Falls Police arrived at scene and found more of Gate's remains. Police also confirmed they had found two more of Gate's body parts in the Niagara River, including her other hand.

MORE | Police had already confirmed through DNA testing that a torso pulled from the river four days after Gates was last seen belongs to the mother of 3

Gate's father came to the park and begged the public for help.

"If they remember anything, a phone number, a person, a person who has last seen Loretta; if they're saying that they've seen her and talked to her, to come forward and let us know, let the police know. Why should they let this killer be going free?" Arthur Gates pleaded.

Police said they want everyone to know there is not a serial killer in the neighborhood. They said they're doing everything they can to investigate to make sure everyone is safe and to close this case.