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Woman Found Slain In Trunk Of Car In Woodside, Queens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Tuesday were looking to question a possible boyfriend in the murder of a Queens woman who never came home from her overnight shift.

As 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported, the husband of Young Joo Byun reported her missing Friday when she did not come home following her shift at a Korean Bakery in Maspeth, where she worked as a baker.

She had last been seen leaving work early Friday. Her shift ran from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Woman Found Slain In Trunk Of Car In Woodside, Queens

Police found her body around 3 p.m. Monday, concealed inside her blue Honda Civic near 61st Street and Queens Boulevard in Woodside, Queens, according to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

"She was in the trunk of a car, covered with trash bags," Kelly said.

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office ruled Byun's death a homicide, saying she had been strangled.

As CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported Tuesday night, the victim's daughter, Michelle Cha, teared up as she talked about her mother.

"She was always happy, and if we fought with her, she would always give up and always forgive us," Cha said.

Michelle Cha, 14, said she and her 15-year-old sister, and 7-year-old brother, are lost without their mother.

Husband Jae Yun Cha said he is heartbroken, raising his children alone.

"He doesn't want to believe what happened to my mom," Michelle Cha said. "And he, it's like really hard for him to understand what happened."

Jae Yun Cha was questioned and is not considered a suspect. He said he just hopes police find his wife's killer.

"She worked hard, but very tired," but she was a good mother, Cha told Rincon.

Michelle Cha said her father was baffled by the crime.

"My mom is very quiet with what she does," she said, "and so my dad doesn't know who would hurt her and why.

Jae Yun Cha said he and Young had divorced but were reconciling. Police sources said they are looking to question a possible boyfriend.

"She left with a significant amount of baked goods," Kelly said. "The speculation is she was meeting somebody and I can tell you that the investigation is going forward aggressively."

Cha said he is hopeful police will catch Young's killer, but he is devastated he can't continue to rebuild his life with his wife.

"You know everybody wants a dream come true right?" Cha said. "Well, my family, not yet."

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