Bronx Woman Found Dead In Vacant Lot Was Suffocated With Plastic Bag, Beaten

KEY POINTS

New York City police have identified the 32-year-old woman who was found dead in a vacant lot in the Bronx in July
The medical examiner said she died of suffocation and “homicidal violence”
Her death has been deemed a homicide, but no arrests have been made

A Bronx woman who was found dead this summer in a vacant lot was beaten and suffocated with a plastic bag tied over her head, authorities said Saturday.

New York City police identified the woman as 32-year-old Jazmine Williams. Her death has been deemed a homicide, the Associated Press reported, citing police.

The city medical examiner reported that Williams died of suffocation and “homicidal violence,” according to New York Daily News. A plastic bag tied over her head was used to suffocate her, the medical examiner confirmed.

Williams' decomposing body was found July 1 in a pile of garbage in a lot on Exterior Street near East 144th Street in Mott Haven. The lot is 2 miles from the victim's home on Forest Avenue, police said.

It was not clear when Williams actually died. No arrests have been made in connection to her death, police said.

Police responded to a 911 call on July 1 after construction workers made the gruesome discovery as they were clearing out the empty lot that day.

The lot was being cleaned up in advance of the construction of a 43-story residential tower by the Lightstone Group, a development company.

Neighbors of Williams told New York Daily News that they have seen police questioning other people who lived with the victim since she vanished.

“Everybody on this block already knows each other, so when somebody disappears... The whole block knows,” said Justine Palmer, who lives nearby.

Palmer said a lot of people were living in Williams’ home around the time she vanished.

“I’ve seen 30 different people run in and out of that house,” the home health aide added.

The police investigation at Williams’ building took neighbors on the usually quiet block by surprise.

Another person who lives nearby, Lesroy George, told the Daily News that he found it “totally strange,” adding, “I thought probably somebody just overdosed or something.”

The NYPD said those with information related to the case can send tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tipsters can also send information by visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.