Homicide investigations in New York and New Jersey

Authorities in the New York and New Jersey area are investigating several separate homicide cases.

In Queens, New York, the remains of 29-year-old Matthew Collado were discovered inside a school chimney in Glendale. Collado had been missing since May. While dental records confirmed his identity, the cause and manner of death remain undetermined.

In Chester, New Jersey, officials confirmed that 35-year-old Brooke Hanlon died from “sharp force injuries” after being found stabbed in her home. Her husband, who discovered her, has denied involvement, and no arrests have been made.

In East Harlem, Manhattan, the NYPD is investigating the deaths of Elsa Espina-Espinal, a 55-year-old home health aide, and her 66-year-old patient, Wilgen Elias Severino-Tatis. The victims were discovered by a neighbor on the night of November 5, 2026, at the Gaylord White Houses. Both individuals sustained gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators noted that Severino-Tatis was found with his hands tied, and the absence of a firearm at the scene has led authorities to rule out suicide.

Espina-Espinal, a Bronx resident, had worked as a caregiver for 18 years and was reportedly weeks away from retiring and moving back to Santo Domingo. Residents of the NYCHA-managed complex have raised concerns regarding building security, citing ongoing renovation work and scaffolding that may have facilitated unauthorized access.