Body found at NY building where woman went missing

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MISSING MOM'S BODY FOUND AT 2 RECTOR ST.
HIDDEN IN AIR-CONDITIONING VENT
hide topics Last updated: 7:10 am
July 12, 2009
Posted: 1:12 pm
July 11, 2009

A beefy Staten Island creep with a history of violence was closely watched by police yesterday after investigators found what they believe is the body of a missing cleaning woman in the Financial District office tower where she worked.

Tattooed tough guy Joseph Pabon, 26, was not arrested, but cops were camped outside his house and followed him -- at times with five cruisers -- when as he came and went.

Pabon is a freight-elevator operator at 2 Rector St., where Eridania Rodriguez, a mother of three, vanished Tuesday.

He was grilled by cops for a full day after the disappearance, but was released after securing a lawyer.

"He's definitely a suspect," a police source said.

Pabon had scratches on his arms, worked the same night as the victim and suspiciously didn't finish his shift, sources said.

Yesterday morning, a police officer found a fully-clothed woman's body lying face-down in a 12th-floor air vent at the office building.

Last night, the remains were removed from the duct and taken to the Medical Examiner's Office for examination.

Rodriguez was set to start cleaning the fifth-floor bathrooms at 7:30 p.m. when she called colleague Rosa Quezada to say she'd been oddly summoned to the eighth floor. She didn't say who gave those instructions.

Her co-workers became worried when she failed to meet them for dinner at 9 p.m. and failed to answer her cellphone.

Quezada and a supervisor later found Rodriguez's belongings -- including a hair clip -- on the eighth floor, but she was gone.

Pabon had a key to the restricted 12th floor.

Quezada said the elevator operator has a reputation for having a short fuse.

"He has a very strong character," she said, although she added she never saw the behavior herself. "Sometimes when things wouldn't go his way, his co-workers would have to tell him to calm down because his temper would flare."

The rage allegedly surfaced in April when he was arrested for punching and choking girlfriend Lisamarie Blumenberg, 28, before throwing a bowling ball through her car windows in a drunken rage.

Rodriguez's family was heartbroken over yesterday's grim discovery and urged cops to close in on their suspect.

"I just hope they arrest this guy," Rodriguez's brother, Victor Martinez, 35, said of Pabon.

But Pabon's sister insisted that he is innocent. "My brother does not know her," she said. "[The police] are abusing my brother for no reason."

His criminal history dates to 2002, sources said. Pabon has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and driving without a license. He was also charged with misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle and trespassing and contempt, which were dismissed.

Early yesterday, Pabon was seen having a loud, heated argument with baby mama Nina Finazzo outside his home.

"They were both crying," said neighbor Constantino Palermo, 40. "They both looked stressed. He was wiping his tears on his T-shirt."

Pabon, wearing pajama pants with pictures of Corona beer bottles on them, then hugged a child sitting in the back seat of Finazzo's SUV.

"I trust him," she said afterward. "I wouldn't leave my child with him if I thought he was a murderer. He's a good father."

Finazzo said that Pabon volunteered to help find Rodriguez.

"He even told me if there was anything he could do to help find this woman, he would," she added.

Later in the afternoon, Pabon left his home with Blumenberg, but was tailed by police.

He returned at around 4:15 p.m. with five unmarked cruisers in tow and refused to answer several questions from a reporter.

He also told his female companion to "shut up" after she hinted she'd stand by her man.

Pabon left a few minutes later, and the police caravan followed along.

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Thanks for posting a follow up to that sad story. Poor woman! I hope the perpetrator is convicted, whoever it was, but I am sorry that happened to her.

It's just down the road from me. They had TEAMS looking for her, it just shows that either:

a) they didn't do that good of a job, because they didn't care since she was from Washington Heights

b) these big old buildings have LOTS of places to hide


Take your pick. At least they don't have to go to the dump in PA now.

Certainly a lot of arrows pointing at this guy as the murderer -- the same schedule as the victim...his disappearance on the same day as the victim disappeared...his temper...his access to the restricted floor where the victim's body was found, which means he could have had plenty of undisturbed time to dispose of the body in the air vent on a floor that was locked to everyone, or nearly everyone else, since it was restricted. A lot of arrows pointing at this guy.

what is this world coming to. the poor woman was just trying to do her job so she could pay her bills and raise her children. I have a feeling that some creep at work that had a crush on her decided he wasnt going to take No for an answer. there aint no telling what that poor lady went through at some pervs hands. It will all come out in the Autopsy. I really hate that this woman and her family have been destroyed like this. it really makes me sad...

Last Edited by Neesie on 07/12/2009 09:30 AM

well, if this is the same man she had been complaining about that acted strange and made her nervous, then i'm thinking he is their guy. he sounds violent enough too...but why are they just following him? what on earth purpose does that serve? take him in for questioning, get a warrant and search his house and car...something...what are they waiting for?

reminds me of the movie "Weekend at Bernie;s"

this has already been posted 4 times now, learn how to use the search functions or leave and never come back

you don't own the forum. people can post as many times about the same subject as they like. Now, go and ask your mom why she didnt teach you good manners.