Post by Scumhunter on Oct 7, 2017 1:13:19 GMT -5
(Above: Jennifer Cohen (victim) Photo Credit: Go Fund Me)
(Above: Surveillance image of suspect: brooklyndaily.com)
This murder is still a mystery.
Sept. 29 was the one-year anniversary of the death of a 35-year-old Ridgite who was found murdered in Owl’s Head Park near Colonial Road and Wakeman Place, whose killer remains at large even after police released photos and a video of the suspect who was last seen with the woman before her death. The unsolved murder has left many Ridgites rattled.
“It worries me because it makes me think that someone is protecting this person,” Eric Powell, who lives near the park and often visits with his young daughter, said. “When they have footage and pictures of someone, someone has to know something.”
The 5-foot-8, 175 pound suspect was the last person seen with Jennifer Cohen, and surveillance footage captured the pair walking down Second Avenue towards the park around 2:45 am on Sept. 29 of last year. A jogger found Cohen’s lifeless body in the park a few hours later around 9 am, according to authorities. Police also found hypodermic needles in her purse near her body, which had severe head and face trauma.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the police department is offering a $2,500 for anyone who offers information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.
And last year was the first time Owl’s Head Park had seen a murder in nearly fifty years, according to a Bay Ridge historian who also leads tours of the park. The last park killing he recalls was the slaying of 17-year-old Leonard Coury, who was shot in the head there in 1974. But the Ridge history buff said that Coury’s 1974 murder reflected social and economic problems, including vandalism, already plaguing the nabe at the time, whereas Cohen’s murder last year seemed more random considering the neighborhood’s relative safety today.
“I think it’s fair to read the Coury case as indicative of its era — a low-point in the decline of the park,” said Henry Stewart. “I do not think you could say the same about Ms. Cohen’s death. It’s a tragedy, but a unique one. The park is and continues to thrive despite it.”
Indeed, the police department said that the 68th Precinct, which covers Owl’s Head Park and Bay Ridge, as well as Dyker Heights, is among the city’s safest precincts. The area has only seen one murder so far this year, and Cohen’s was among three murders in the precinct last year.
But not all locals were reassured by the relative tranquility of the Ridge. One mother who frequents the park with her two kids said that the fact that Cohen’s killer is still on the loose worries her, despite the nabe’s otherwise low crime rates.
“I know violent crime is rare in this neighborhood, but it is still very scary that the person has not been caught,” Rachel Johnson said. “I take my kids to that park a couple times a week and do always feel safe, but it would feel even better if the murderer was found.”
Community Board 10’s district manager said that there has been “great concern” among locals about maintaining the safety of the park and catching the killer.
“Security was a concern, because there are parts of Owl’s Head Park that are off the lighted street and not visible,” said Josephine Beckmann. “There were a great deal of people throughout the community who were upset. Murders don’t happen often here — we’re one of the safest communities in the city of New York — and it raises everyone’s eyebrows and people get concerned when it happens.”
Beckmann said she thinks the community should keep its focus on remembering Cohen and the unjust nature of her death.
“She was a crime victim and she suffered a terrible death,” Beckmann said. “Her assailant is still out there.”
Last year, Cohen’s brother, Andrew Lavin, started a GoFundMe page to fund her funeral, which he said the family did not have the money to pay for. He raised just $4,700 of the $10,000 goal.
Cohen left behind two sons. Her family could not be reached for comment by press time.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the murder to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577–8477. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2017/40/br-owls-head-murder-mystery2017-10-06-bk.html
Thoughts? I should also note the above link has the YouTube surveillance links.
I hope Jennifer's family won't mind but I found her photo on the Go Fund Me article link and posted it here because although identifying the suspect is what's needed to solve the case, I like to give a face to these stories to remind everyone these victims were human beings.
I am pretty familiar with Brooklyn as a native New Yorker and Bay Ridge has always had a reputation as a very safe neighborhood, and was considered safe even before other neighborhoods in the borough underwent gentrification. That's partially what makes Jennifer's murder so shocking. However, Bay Ridge is very close to Sunset Park which hasn't always had the best reputation. (I googled about Sunset Park and the neighborhood has had a drop in crime recently but wasn't always the case, it's not exactly a bad neighborhood but there are some seedy looking parts there and at least until recently wasn't a great neighborhood either). My gut instinct is the killer might be from there.
What's scary about this case is if the killer did this once, what's not to say he won't kill again or hasn't killed before? That's why it's important to both get justice for Jennifer and save any more future potential victims as well.
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