HELL'S KITCHEN — Three years after police found the body of a young woman behind a church, cops have put up a new round of posters looking for information in the case.
Investigators hope to find anyone who might have information in the death of April Wagner, whose body was found badly decomposed behind the Church of Saints Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael at 502 W. 41st St.
Cops said they put up the new posters in the hopes of finding witnesses who may not be aware that the case was still open. The posters offer $2,000 for any tips that lead to an arrest in the case.
According to a report in the New York Post, a maintenance worker found Wagner's body beneath the staircase in the rear of the church on Aug. 18, 2009. The remains were originally believed to belong to a homeless woman, the report said.
Nearly a year later, neighbor Joy Bergmann published a blog post expressing outrage that the case had not progressed. Two commenters claiming to be Wagner's aunt and mother responded to the article, expressing their grief.
"This has been a terrible devastation for the mother and sisters and family," wrote "Maria," who identified herself as Wagner's aunt.
"Please know that we loved and cared about April so much,there is not a day that goes by, that I wish I can turn back time."
Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-8477, submit tips to www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text tips to 274637 and then enter TIP577.
