By Sarina Trangle
Police officers found a 51-year-old woman’s body in the East River near the coast of Gantry Plaza State Park Saturday morning, the NYPD said.
The Police Department said it dispatched officers to the shore of Long Island City near 47th Road and Center Boulevard at 10:12 a.m. and firefighers pulled Judy Soo Hoo, 51, out of the water. Emergency responders pronounced the Long Island City resident dead at the scene.
Police said there was no visible sign of trauma found on Soo Hoo’s body, which was recovered fully clothed in a blue jacket and gray pants.
Several park patrons gathered on an outcropping between two piers to watch police investigate. Officers had used police tape to block off area, including a piece of orange equipment covered in white cloth.
Zac Lochner, who moved to Long Island City in October, said passers-by were out in droves to enjoy the warm and weather and were surprised by the police presence.
“It’s just crazy. It’s the first nice day — fresh air, blue skies, a body washing up on shore,” Lochner said.
He said the East River’s changing tides could carry bodies to strange locations.
“With the tides and currents, it could come from anywhere,” he said. “Avonte Oquendo disappeared here and showed up in College Point.”
Avonte, a 14-year-old austistic boy, went missing after running out of his Long Island City school in October, and his remains were found in January in Powell’s Cove.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
