On the evening of Friday, March 20, 2026, in the affluent hamlet of Oyster Bay on New York’s Long Island, 32-year-old Brittany Kritis-Garip vanished in circumstances that have left her family, friends, and Nassau County police grappling with a troubling mystery. According to her husband Fernando Garip and multiple reports, Brittany — described as being in a panicked or psychotic state — suddenly jumped from a moving vehicle, tossed her phone into thick roadside bushes, and fled on foot into the darkness.

Searchers first recovered her phone from the bushes near McCouns Lane (also reported as McCouris Lane) around 8:14 p.m., where surveillance footage captured her last confirmed movements. Yet what authorities and volunteers discovered later — her wallet found near Florence Avenue along a road or path leading down to the marshy shoreline of Oyster Bay Harbor — has shifted the search into high gear and raised serious concerns about her safety and possible intentions.

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Brittany Kritis-Garip (left: color photo commonly shared; right: surveillance image from the night she disappeared). Family and police describe her as vulnerable, disoriented, and in need of immediate help rather than a danger to others.

A Sudden, Panicked Escape

Family members say Brittany was traveling in a vehicle (reports indicate it was with her husband Fernando) when she abruptly “hopped out” or jumped after a stop sign or while the car was moving slowly. In a panicked state, she discarded her phone into bushes — an act her loved ones attribute to paranoia; she reportedly believed she was being tracked or in danger. She then ran off wearing black pants and a black jacket with a fur collar.

Her brother Niko Kritis and sister-in-law Jess Kritis have spoken publicly, emphasizing that Brittany is “vulnerable” and likely “disoriented and frightened.” A GoFundMe launched by friend Sarah Castor notes that Brittany may be suffering from a psychotic episode, and she “thinks she’s being tracked and in danger,” which explains why she ditched her phone.

Nassau County Police Department issued a missing person alert shortly after she was reported missing around 8:30 p.m. Surveillance video from the area shows her walking alone along a quiet road before the trail went cold.

The Discoveries That Raised Alarms

The phone was found first — discarded in thick bushes along the roadside, consistent with her husband’s account. This discovery helped narrow the initial search area in the ritzy Oyster Bay neighborhood.

Later, her wallet was located near Florence Avenue, on or near a path or road leading down toward the water at Oyster Bay Harbor. Volunteers have since focused intense efforts on a roughly one-mile stretch of marshy, sandy shoreline, wooded areas, and nearby properties. The proximity of personal items to the water has investigators and family deeply concerned, prompting searches of potential hiding spots: sheds, garages, pool houses, under decks, beneath boat covers, and along marshy or wooded shoreline on both public and private land.

tmz.com

Long Island Woman Missing After Jumping From Moving Car, Husband Says

A missing person flyer for Brittany Kritis-Garip, widely shared by family and police. She is 5’7″, approximately 140 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Family’s Desperate Appeal and Search Efforts

Fernando Garip has been vocal in the search, telling media: “We’ve been combing wooded areas, rural areas, suburban areas, everything. So we’re just asking for the public’s help here. I don’t care what we have to do.” He and other loved ones stress that Brittany is not dangerous — she needs medical and emotional support.

Friends and family have organized ground searches, urged residents to check security cameras, and highlighted that every second counts. The GoFundMe has raised thousands to support private investigation efforts and continued searches.

Brittany is described as a Caucasian woman, 5’7″ tall, about 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants and a black jacket with a fur collar. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Nassau County Police Department Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7347 or call 911 in an emergency.

Broader Context and Possible Mental Health Angle

This case has drawn significant attention on Long Island and in national media, with outlets like the New York Post, People, Fox News, and News 12 Long Island covering the unusual circumstances. Many similar cases involving sudden behavioral changes often involve underlying mental health crises, and Brittany’s loved ones have been open about her vulnerability during what appears to be a psychotic or highly disoriented episode.

Oyster Bay, known for its scenic harbor, historic homes, and waterfront, includes marshy shorelines and wooded patches that can be challenging to search, especially at night or in cooler March weather. Volunteers continue to comb these areas, fearing she may be hiding out of fear or unable to seek help.

greaterlongisland.com

Missing East Norwich woman’s wallet found near Oyster Bay Harbor

Oyster Bay Harbor area on Long Island, where searches have intensified after Brittany’s wallet was found near a path leading toward the water. The marshy shoreline and nearby wooded zones remain a focus.

What Happens Next?

As of March 27, 2026, Brittany Kritis-Garip remains missing, now for over a week. Police and family continue coordinated searches, with public appeals urging residents to check outbuildings, vehicles, and any sheltered spots where someone in distress might seek cover.

The sequence — phone tossed into bushes first, followed by the wallet’s discovery near the water path — has added urgency and concern. While no foul play has been publicly indicated, the circumstances of her panicked flight and the location of her belongings near the harbor have prompted thorough checks of the shoreline.

Anyone who may have seen Brittany or has security footage from the Oyster Bay area on the evening of March 20 is asked to reach out immediately. Her family’s message is clear and compassionate: “Brittany is deeply loved. We are doing everything we can to find her — and we are so grateful for your support. She needs help.”

In an era where missing persons cases often go viral through social media, posts featuring her photos, the surveillance image, and missing flyers have spread rapidly, amplifying calls for tips. The community in Oyster Bay and surrounding East Norwich has rallied, but the fear remains that time is critical for someone who may be frightened, cold, and disoriented.

The search for Brittany Kritis-Garip continues across Long Island’s North Shore — from roadside bushes where her phone was found to the marshy paths leading to the water where her wallet surfaced. Her loved ones hold onto hope that she will be found safe and receive the care she needs.