The body of a young woman from Minnesota, who had been reported missing after attending a work party in Manhattan, was discovered in a trash chute of a high-end Chelsea building. The woman, identified as 24-year-old Jaclyn Elmquist, was last seen on camera appearing unsteady as she walked along a sidewalk before disappearing. The New York Police Department (NYPD) stated on Saturday that they do not suspect foul play in Elmquist’s death.
Elmquist’s body was found on Friday afternoon at +Art, a luxury building located at 540 West 28th St. The police were able to identify her after seeing missing person flyers that had been distributed in the area. Surveillance footage from outside the building showed Elmquist, who seemed to be struggling to maintain her balance, entering the building where her body was later discovered.
The video clip shows Elmquist holding onto a wall for support, then turning towards a building before returning to the sidewalk. A police source stated that while it has not been confirmed if Elmquist was intoxicated, it is a possibility that is currently being investigated.
Elmquist, an employee of the recruiting company Mission Staffing, had attended a work party in Manhattan and failed to return to her Brooklyn home. Her cousin, who goes by the online name @katlynkampmeier, posted about Elmquist’s disappearance on social media, urging people to spread the word since all of Elmquist’s family resides in Minnesota.
The reason for Elmquist entering the building where her body was found remains unclear. The superintendent of her Brooklyn building was visibly upset upon learning of her death. He described Elmquist as a private person who was friendly and seemed happy.
Elmquist’s grandfather, John Elmquist, told reporters that Jaclyn’s father James and sister Madalyn are in New York, but the family has limited information about her death. The cause and manner of Elmquist’s death are pending an autopsy by the city Medical Examiner’s office.
Elmquist’s tragic death is reminiscent of the July 2018 death of Lara Prychodko, who was found in the basement of her luxury Union Square building after police said she had fallen down the trash chute. No criminality was suspected in Prychodko’s case, although her father Nicholas has repeatedly claimed she was murdered.