MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) -- Homicide detectives on Long Island conceded Wednesday they have few clues to go on in the mysterious death of a college secretary found outside a vacant waterfront house more than a month after she was reported missing.
The body of the woman, identified as 60-year-old Irene Luetje, was found about five miles away from her home last Thursday in Massapequa, Nassau County Detective Lt. John Azzata told reporters. He appealed for the public's help in unraveling the mystery.
"Everything right now is a mystery to us," Azzata said. "What she would be doing there? Is it possible she succumbed to a serious illness at that point and was looking for help? That's a possibility. Right now, everything's a possibility. We do our best work when we have the public's input."
Azzata said police are awaiting toxicology test results from Luetje's autopsy, which could take several weeks. No signs of trauma were found on the woman's body, and her purse contained cash and her driver's license when she was found, police said.
He said Luetje, who worked at Farmingdale State College, was known by friends to take long walks. The distance from her home to where Luetje's body was found is about five miles. Azzata noted that Luetje was found wearing silver ballet slippers, which would be unusual footwear for someone taking a long hike.
She lived alone in an apartment in a private house in North Massapequa, police said. The owner of the home told police she last saw Luetje on Jan. 6, relatives filed a missing persons report on Jan. 12. Luetje's car was still parked in her driveway.
Her body was found on Valentine's Day lying under an overhang by contractors working in a neighborhood of homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The house where she was found was unoccupied, police said.
Her sister, Lorraine Hauser of Ronkonkoma, told Newsday that Luetje loved her job, her car and her grandniece. "These are all three things she would never walk away from," Hauser said.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:52 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:52:57 GMT
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:30 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:30:40 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
Saturday, June 15 2013 9:19 PM EDT2013-06-16 01:19:35 GMT
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Saturday, June 15 2013 7:32 PM EDT2013-06-15 23:32:29 GMT
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
Irene Luetje
