A man is under arrest in the killing of a 63-year-old woman inside Central Park, the NYPD said late Sunday.
Jonathan Robles, 36, was booked for murder and criminal possession of a weapon around 9:00 p.m. Robles’ last listed address is the Barbour Hotel homeless shelter in Hell’s Kitchen.
Investigators said Sunday night that the victim, who was found near East Drive and East 74th Street, had head trauma. Police retracted an earlier statement that the woman had been stabbed.
The NYPD said it received a call about an unconscious woman at around 9:40 a.m., as a slow-moving nor’easter drenched the region. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said the woman who died did not have identification.
Police investigate after a woman was found dead Sunday in Central Park, with trauma to her head. (Image: NBC New York)
The death left some Central Park visitors shaken.
“Terrible. This is our playground. It’s our backyard… it’s the last thing you want to happen,” John, a New York City resident, said.
“It’s very terrible and sad news because we are tourists and we expect to pass a good time so it’s very sad,” tourist Guadalupe García said. “I will try to enjoy the park in this time and not at the dark, for example.”
Police believe the victim may have been experiencing homelessness.