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NYPD Seeks Help Identifying Badly Decomposed Woman Found in Attic

By Alan Neuhauser | August 7, 2012 8:05am
The body of a badly decomposed woman was found in a Queens attic.
The body of a badly decomposed woman was found in a Queens attic.
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DNAinfo/Tuan Nguyen

QUEENS — The NYPD is asking for the public's help to identify a woman whose body was found in the attic of a Richmond Hill apartment Saturday, approximately two weeks after the brother of an NYPD cop committed suicide there, cops and news sources said.

Cops believe Devendra Autar, 32, who hanged himself in the 97-26 Van Wyck Expressway home last month, killed the woman before taking his own life. Autar, who was found by his brother, Police Officer Devchand Autar, on July 20.

He left behind a suicide note stating he expected to go to Hell, according to the New York Post and New York Daily News, which published two different versions of the note.

The badly decomposed body of the woman was discovered over the weekend only after neighbors reported smelling a suspicious odor, the police said. She was found in a plastic box, and had sustained "numerous" stab wounds to her torso and neck, police and the city Medical Examiner's office reported.

The NYPD released information about the woman Monday night.

She was between 5-feet-3-inches and 5-feet-9-inches tall, and she had dyed blonde hair with dark roots, police said. The name "Danny" was tattooed on top of her left wrist, "Evelyn" was inked inside her left wrist and the Cancer astrological symbol was tattooed on her left forearm.

Also, the woman's right wrist bore a butterfly tattoo, she had an angel fish tattoo on the front of her right shoulder and the word "Serenity" was tattooed on her right index finger.

Anyone with information about the woman's identity is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS (5477). Members of the public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577.