Arrest Made In 2012 Murder Of 88-Year-Old Bronx Woman
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have charged a homeless woman in the 2012 beating death of a Bronx grandmother.
Evelyn Shapiro, 88, was found dead inside her ransacked apartment at the Pelham Parkway Houses on June 16, 2012. Shapiro was found with groceries scattered around her. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
Pia McQueen, 31, turned herself in to the 49th Precinct police station Monday, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
McQueen was arraigned late Tuesday night and was ordered held in custody. She was set to return to court on Feb. 18 of next year.
Police said McQueen attacked Shapiro for her gold jewelry, and there's no indication the two had any relationship, Gold reported.
McQueen has a history of arrests, but none are linked to violence, authorities said.
Neighbors said McQueen used to live with her family in the building and claim she's involved with drugs.
McQueen is charged with second-degree murder, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon. She is expected to face a judge Tuesday.
"It's about time they arrested this person," said neighbor Candita Feliciano. "I'm very, very glad to hear that."
Sources told CBS2 McQueen had an accomplice who is currently behind bars in connection with another crime.
Police received a tip from someone in jail about McQueen and her alleged accomplice, who has not yet been charged, sources said.
Jenny Rosario, who lives on the floor below Shapiro's, said she spoke with the victim in the elevator the day before she died.
"The next day, my daughter called me up and says, 'Mom, so and so passed away,'" Rosario said. "I said, 'No, it cannot be possible.
"She was a very lovely person and helping everybody in the world."
Shapiro's friends and neighbors said they have been scared ever since the killing.
"A number of people have moved out of the building because of the incident," one woman said. "Because they don't know who did it."
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