A grim discovery in Queens has rattled the local community and sparked an investigation by the NYPD. Yesterday morning, the body of a woman believed to be in her 40s or 50s was found floating in the water at Fort Totten Park along the East River, according to ABC7 New York. Nearby, a blood-stained white Mercedes with New York plates drew further attention to the scene, parked approximately 50 yards from where the woman was discovered.
The 911 call came in just after 11 a.m., reporting the body along the water's edge which the public frequents for fishing and leisurely walks. The New York Post reported that the vehicle, a white Mercedes E-class, showed substantial blood smears on the rear driver-side door and had blood pooled in the white leather interior of the driver's seat. Responding officers and EMS declared the woman dead at the site.
An NYPD spokesperson shared with The Post that the woman's identity is being withheld until her family has been notified. Both local residents and visitors were stunned by the incident, disrupting the usual tranquility of the park.
"I always walk in the daytime, I never walk at night. But this is devastating -- it's scary," Patricia told ABC7 New York, suggesting the rareness of such violent episodes in the area. Witnesses were taken aback by the juxtaposition of a serene park turned crime scene, a place guarded around the clock due to its status as a historical site and military property. Max, a local from nearby Whitestone, expressed his shock to The Post: "I lived here my whole life, and never saw a crime scene here," he said.
As the investigation unfolds, the NYPD is expanding their search for clues, reviewing area surveillance footage and examining both the park and the blood-stained vehicle. The medical examiner has taken custody of the body to determine the cause of death. Officials are urging anyone with information to come forward as they attempt to piece together the circumstances leading up to the woman's death.
