By Rebecca Henely
A 31-year-old Astoria resident was found dead in a bright blue BMW Saturday, having been unnoticed for days in the snow- and ice-covered vehicle. The city medical examiner’s office was still investigating the cause of the man’s death.
Police said they found Argent Dyryzi inside the car, which was parked at 28th Street and Newtown Avenue in Astoria, after responding to a 911 call at 12:07 a.m. Saturday reporting an unconscious man in a vehicle. When they arrived, they discovered Dyryzi unconscious and unresponsive in the 2007 BMW 328xi, police said. Emergency Medical Service providers who responded to the scene pronounced Dyryzi DOA, police said.
The police’s investigation was ongoing, although no criminality was expected, police said.
The car in which Dyryzi was found was parked on the same street as his home, located in an apartment on 28th Street near Astoria Boulevard.
The New York Times reported Dyryzi, an Albanian immigrant, had been missing since Feb. 2. His body had been hidden in the car by the snow and had become visible to passers-by Friday evening after the snow started to melt, The Times said.
A spokeswoman from the medical examiner’s office said the cause of Dyryzi’s death was still unknown pending further study and estimated the cause would not determined until sometime next week or later.
In an interview with The Times, Romina Perkaj, described as a friend of Dyryzi, said she believed his death was an accident, not a suicide. She said she thought the snow may have blocked the tailpipe, The Times said.
“He was a genuinely great guy,” Perkaj told The Times. “He loved little surprises for his friends. He would always be fixing things for people.”
Perkaj said Dyryzi had emigrated from Albania to the city eight years ago to work in construction but had not been working due to the weather, the newspaper said. She said Dyryzi’s roommate owned the car and she believed he had been moving the car as a favor.
Other friends of Dyryzi’s did not respond to requests for comment. His family could not be located.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
