Grave Find At Missing Ridgewood Man’s Home
Police found the remains of a 60-year-old man reported missing last week buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of his Ridgewood home on Tuesday, Apr. 30— and the son of the man’s girlfriend was collared the following day for the murder, it was reported.
The body of Frank Soucie was discovered in the rear yard of his Putnam Avenue residence Tuesday evening, authorities said. Soucie, a retired postal worker, was recently reported missing to the NYPD and was last seen in the area last Monday, Apr. 22.
As the Times Newsweekly went to press on Wednesday, May 1, police announced that 27-year-old Derek Tudor—who lived in Soucie’s PutnamAvenue residence—was booked on murder charges.
According to published reports, Tudor is the son of Soucie’s girlfriend.
No other details regarding the crime were released at press time. Additional details, as they are made available, will be reported in next week’s issue.
Frank Soucie is the brother Martin Soucie, a former Democratic district leader active in a host of Ridgewood organizations, who died suddenly in Puerto Rico on Apr. 14, 2001 at the age of 46.
Members of the 104th Precinct responded to Frank Soucie’s home on Putnam Avenue near Woodward Avenue at around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday morning after receiving a 911 call regarding a suspicious person.
According to reports, a man was observed moments earlier dumping a large sleeping bag in a nearby trash can.
Law enforcement sources said officers conducted a search in the vicinity of the home and recovered the bag. Police reportedly found gloves, ammonia and a cord near the scene.
Following the discovery, authorities said, the 104th Precinct established a crime scene and sealed off the surrounding block.
The search continued into the night when, at around 7 p.m., officers reportedly found the body buried under fresh dirt.
According to police, officers removed the dirt and found the remains of Soucie, which were wrapped in a cloth material.
The body was exhumed from the grave and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The investigation is ongoing.
