By Alexander Dworkowitz
A Flushing man has been arrested on charges of robbing a woman on the rooftop of his own building nearly a month after she was found dead on the same roof.
Jorge Ibarra, 30, of 143-40 41st Ave., was arrested on Aug. 20, police said. He was charged with robbery in the third degree and arraigned in front of State Supreme Court Judge William M. Earlbaum in Kew Gardens last Thursday, according to a spokesman for the Queens district attorney’s office.
He was being held without bail and scheduled to return to court on Sept. 5, the spokesman said.
Authorities were awaiting toxicology results from the city medical examiner’s office in order to determine whether or not to charge Ibarra with the death of Martha McGrath, 47, law enforcement sources said. Officials did not say where McGrath had lived.
Ibarra’s lawyer refused to comment on the case.
On July 21, Ibarra and McGrath headed to the roof of the Harwyn apartment house at 143-40 41 Ave., where Ibarra lives, according to a law enforcement source.
“They had gone up there to engage in oral sex for pay,” the source said. ”He admits touching her and forcing her to the ground.”
But Ibarra said he then left McGrath, according to the law enforcement source. Ibarra allegedly took an undetermined amount of cash from McGrath, the source said.
Four days later, the Harwyn’s porter found McGrath’s decomposing body on the roof.
The discovery of McGrath’s body terrified residents of the Harwyn. Many women in the building would only return to their apartments at night accompanied by a friend.
Martha Flores Vazquez, who lives in the Harwyn and knew Ibarra when he was a child, was shocked to find out about his arrest.
“It’s horrible,” she said. “I saw this kid grow up. Unbelievable.”
Vazquez said she had heard from neighbors who knew McGrath that she had two children.
Vazquez added that many residents in the building were suspicious of Ibarra.
“Maybe now he’s also safe from himself, and he’ll get the help he really needs,” she said.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 141.
