By Madina Toure
The husband of a Whitestone woman who went missing in early September, along with the private investigator looking into her disappearance, spoke at a news conference held at state Sen. Tony Avella’s (D-Bayside) district office Tuesday afternoon.
Maria Brabazon, 55, was last seen Sept. 5 at 2:54 p.m. when she was observed by a neighbor’s home surveillance camera walking on 14th Avenue toward the intersection of 152nd Street in Whitestone.
The 109th Precinct Detective Squad and Missing Persons Unit launched an investigation in collaboration with Beau Dietl & Associates.
Brabazon’s husband, Peter, said that her family is praying for her safety.
“I’d like to say that we all love her, we miss her and we need her and we want her home,” Brabazon said at the news conference at 38-50 Bell Blvd.
The morning of her disappearance, Beau Dietl & Associates discovered that Brabazon received a parking summons on 202nd Street in the vicinity of 19th and 21st avenues for an expired inspection.
She then visited a local gas station on the Utopia Parkway to inspect her vehicle. After that, she visited a BJ’s Warehouse in Whitestone where surveillance footage placed her at the checkout at about 11:17 a.m.
The private investigators provided several images of Brabazon from several perspectives as well as a detailed account of her last known whereabouts.
Beau Dietl & Associates have since conducted an extensive search of the public and park areas in and around the Throgs Neck Bridge, including Little Bay Park, Clear Bay Park Golf Course and open areas adjacent to Fort Totten.
Dietl said that the family is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can provide information about Brabazon’s whereabouts.
“There is no reason for us to believe that she can’t be found or that she isn’t alive,” Dietl said.
Avella said that the 109th Precinct has been working diligently on the case.
“I spoke to the deputy inspector and they are really out in force trying to find her,” he said.
Police described Brabazon as 5-foot-5-inches, weighing 125 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a white shirt.
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
