Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Man Found Dead in Forest Park Likely Beaten to Death with Tree Limb: Police

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | June 12, 2015 12:26pm | Updated on June 15, 2015 8:48am
 Police are looking to question 44-year-old Zoltan Forai in the death of a 23-year-old victim who was found in Forest Park Wednesday.
Police are looking to question 44-year-old Zoltan Forai in the death of a 23-year-old victim who was found in Forest Park Wednesday.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo.com/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska/NYPD

QUEENS — Police are looking to question a man in the death of a 23-year-old victim who they say was likely pummeled to death with a tree branch Wednesday in Forest Park, police said.

The body of Diego Piedrahita, of Booth Memorial Ave. in Flushing, was found near Park Lane South and Woodhaven Boulevard by two park goers at about 3:30 p.m., officials said.

Police said the men saw a trail of blood leading to the victim who was lying face down with severe head injuries under a bridge near abandoned railroad tracks.

The medical examiner determined that Piedrahita, who was pronounced dead at the scene, suffered multiple skull fractures and ruled his death a homicide, police said.

The injuries are believed to be caused by a blood-stained tree branch which was found nearby, police said.

Police officials said they are looking to question 44-year-old Zoltan Forai who also goes by the name Stephen Forai.

Authorities said he and the victim both frequented the park and knew one another.

Police described Forai as being 5-foot-7, weighting approximately 170 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair and a beard. He possibly frequents the areas around the Bandshell and Victory Field in Forest Park, police said.

Sources said Forai has 10 police records, most of them sealed. He was cited for drinking in public in California in 1996, then again in 2002 in the vicinity of the 104th Precinct in Queens. He was also cited for a violation of local law in 2000, also within the 104th Precinct.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.