Suffolk County police investigating the murder of a 33-year-old woman found dead in her Shirley home are looking to question her ex-boyfriend who allegedly skipped bail on a probation violation in another case.
A bail bondsman who went to the Elizabeth Hernandez‘ house Wednesday looking for the woman’s boyfriend, Cleon Brown, called police when he smelled “an unpleasant odor,” said Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, commander of the Homicide Squad.
Police found the victim dead inside suffering from an injury to her abdomen. Her body was taken to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
“We’re interested in speaking with her boyfriend,” Fitzpatrick said. “He doesn’t seem to be around at the moment.”
Hernandez’ mother had reported her daughter missing on Saturday. When the victim’s landlord let a detective inside her home, there were initially no signs of her whereabouts, police said.
Fitzpatrick noted that police officers have responded to the residence in the past.
Brown had been free on $50,000 bond since May, a month after being jailed for violating probation he was sentenced to following a September guilty plea to drunken driving, court records show.
A warrant was issued for his arrest Monday for another probation violation. Brown was due back in court Thursday in separate cases in which he pleaded guilty to menacing and criminal contempt in January.
Homicide Squad detectives are continuing the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392. All calls will be kept confidential.
