Michelle
09-20-2006, 11:49 PM
From the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/nyregion/20slay.html/partner/rssnyt):
Disabled Woman, 52, Found Fatally Stabbed
By JENNIFER 8. LEE
Published: September 20, 2006
A disabled 52-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in her first floor apartment yesterday, the police said. The victim, Paula Nieves, of Fulton Avenue in the Bronx, was found with numerous stab wounds in her living room about 1:30 p.m.
Evelyn Rodriguez, a neighbor who was among those who discovered Ms Nieves’s body, said that she had last talked to Ms. Nieves on Monday night, just before a deliverer who came every night at 10 p.m. brought fresh Italian bread to the building. Ms. Nieves was a diabetic and had had open-heart surgery, so she used a wheelchair and had difficulty getting around, neighbors said. They would often help her by bringing her fresh bread. “Every night, she eats her ham and cheese sandwich,” Ms. Rodriguez said.
But yesterday, a relative became worried when Ms. Nieves did not answer the door. A neighbor climbed through the fire escape to find her.
Investigators said that she probably knew her killer, because neighbors told them that Ms. Nieves did not open the door for people she did not know.
“Paula was the type of woman where she wouldn’t just open the door to everybody,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “You would have to call out her name, or say, ‘Paula, it’s me, it’s Evelyn, it’s me.’ ”
Ms. Nieves had three children and nine grandchildren. Neighbors described her as exceptionally generous with her time, advice and cooking. “Even if she didn’t have, she would give,” said Sheena Vazquez, 20, whose mother was one of Ms. Nieves’s best friends.
“Everyone in this building knew her,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “She was a lady who is very loveable. If you needed a plate of food, she would give you a plate of food.”
The bread deliveryman came again last night. Ms. Rodriguez picked up the loaf intended for Ms. Nieves, as she did almost every night. Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Vazquez and other neighbors each ate a piece in memory of Ms. Nieves. Then they put a piece of bread outside the building near candles that they had lit.
Disabled Woman, 52, Found Fatally Stabbed
By JENNIFER 8. LEE
Published: September 20, 2006
A disabled 52-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in her first floor apartment yesterday, the police said. The victim, Paula Nieves, of Fulton Avenue in the Bronx, was found with numerous stab wounds in her living room about 1:30 p.m.
Evelyn Rodriguez, a neighbor who was among those who discovered Ms Nieves’s body, said that she had last talked to Ms. Nieves on Monday night, just before a deliverer who came every night at 10 p.m. brought fresh Italian bread to the building. Ms. Nieves was a diabetic and had had open-heart surgery, so she used a wheelchair and had difficulty getting around, neighbors said. They would often help her by bringing her fresh bread. “Every night, she eats her ham and cheese sandwich,” Ms. Rodriguez said.
But yesterday, a relative became worried when Ms. Nieves did not answer the door. A neighbor climbed through the fire escape to find her.
Investigators said that she probably knew her killer, because neighbors told them that Ms. Nieves did not open the door for people she did not know.
“Paula was the type of woman where she wouldn’t just open the door to everybody,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “You would have to call out her name, or say, ‘Paula, it’s me, it’s Evelyn, it’s me.’ ”
Ms. Nieves had three children and nine grandchildren. Neighbors described her as exceptionally generous with her time, advice and cooking. “Even if she didn’t have, she would give,” said Sheena Vazquez, 20, whose mother was one of Ms. Nieves’s best friends.
“Everyone in this building knew her,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “She was a lady who is very loveable. If you needed a plate of food, she would give you a plate of food.”
The bread deliveryman came again last night. Ms. Rodriguez picked up the loaf intended for Ms. Nieves, as she did almost every night. Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Vazquez and other neighbors each ate a piece in memory of Ms. Nieves. Then they put a piece of bread outside the building near candles that they had lit.