79°
YONKERS, N.Y. Yonkers police have identified the human remains found in a wooded area near Rossmore and Illinois avenues Tuesday as those of a missing Bronx woman.
Police declared their investigation a homicide Thursday after an autopsy found the body found to be that of Pamela Graddick, a 26-year-old woman who was reported missing Aug. 14.
In a Facebook post, Pamela Graddick's sister, Rahasia Graddick, said Pamela was last seen leaving a Target store in the Gateway Center in the Bronx on Saturday, Aug. 11. Eleven days later, Rahasia made a public plea for any information regarding the disappearance of her sister.
As a family we are doing everything that we can do, she wrote. If anybody out there has any information, no matter how little you may think it is, please share it.
Yonkers police responded to the area of Rossmore Avenue around 5 p.m. Tuesday after reports of a suspicious plastic bag with a foul odor in the area.
There, officers found a plastic bag with contents that an initial investigation showed was possibly human. The Westchester County Medical Examiners office performed an autopsy Wednesday.
Rossmore Avenue resident John Doyle said he first noticed the bag Tuesday when a neighbor was walking her dog and complained to him about the smell, thinking the bag was on his property. A retired sergeant with the New York City Police Department, Doyle said he suspected human remains were in the bag when he took a closer look before calling the Yonkers Police Department.
Doyle, who has lived in his home for more than 20 years, said it was surprising to find a body so close to his home.
This is a quiet neighborhood with middle class working people, he said Wednesday.
Neighbor Joan Curran said she was shocked when she learned what had been found in the woods.
I have lived here 40 years and this is a wonderful neighborhood, she said. There has never been anything like this before. Ever.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Detective Division at 914-377-7724 and remind residents that anonymous tips can also be sent to the departments tips411texting program.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Yonkers and receive free news updates.
