A grim discovery was made on Sunday morning when a woman’s body was found floating in the East River near a bustling park in Queens. The body was located approximately 50 yards from an abandoned Mercedes car, which was smeared with blood, according to police and eyewitness reports.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) received a 911 call around 11:15 a.m. regarding an unconscious individual in the water near Fort Totten at Cross Island Boulevard and Totten Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered an unresponsive woman, estimated to be around 45 years old. Emergency medical services were called to the scene, where they pronounced the woman dead.
The body was first noticed by a passerby near the rocky shoreline, close to a popular jogging path that runs through Little Bay Park by the Throgs Neck Bridge. The identity of the deceased woman has been withheld until her family can be notified.
In the vicinity of the body, a white Mercedes E-class car with New York license plates was found. The vehicle, abandoned about 50 yards away, had large bloodstains on the rear driver-side door. The medical examiner, tasked with determining the cause of death, photographed the car’s interior before proceeding to the body. The car’s white leather interior was also stained with blood, including a significant amount on the driver’s seat.
The woman’s identity is being kept confidential until her family is informed. The case is currently under investigation by the NYPD.
Residents of the typically peaceful neighborhood expressed shock at the gruesome scene. A local resident, Max, 48, from nearby Whitestone, said he had never witnessed a crime scene in the area before. He described the situation as “terrible,” noting the proximity of the body to the jogging path and the blood-stained car.
Max further expressed his disbelief, pointing out that the area is usually bustling with activity, especially on Sundays. He noted that the park is a popular spot for biking, rollerblading, and dog walking, making the discovery of the body even more unsettling.