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Police Investigating Grisly Deaths Of Mother, Son In Bronx

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are investigating the brutal killings of a woman and her teenage son in the Belmont section of the Bronx on Sunday.

There was a big police presence surrounding the apartment building on 185th street. They closed off the block as they worked to figure out who killed a mother and son, CBS2's Reena Roy reported.

NYPD investigators gearing up in heavy duty suits as they prepared to enter a gruesome crime scene. Meanwhile, family members arrive to the home in tears.

"It's a tragedy, you know? But unfortunately, who knows what the circumstances are," neighbor Albert Arbelo said.

Neighbors said they couldn't imagine who would kill the mother and her son. Police said the bodies of 51-year-old Marisol Ortiz and 14-year-old Alanche Delorbe, both bludgeoned to death, were found by Ortiz's daughter on Sunday afternoon.

Bronx apartment murders
Alanche Delorbe

"It's crazy because I've been living here for 10 years and never seen something like that happening here," Angel Cabrera said.

"It's sad, very, very sad," added neighbor Steven Kennedy. "It's brutal, nonsensical, just godless to me."

Police told CBS2's Roy that Ortiz is a nearby business owner, but she didn't show up for work. That's when a colleague knew something was wrong.

Emergency workers discovered the two bodies in separate rooms inside the apartment, both with head trauma. Ortiz had a possible stab wound and a knife was recovered in the apartment. Gym weights were also found near their bodies, but it's unclear if the weights were used in the attack.

Neighbors said the two had lived in the building for several years. Police said Ortiz was not married, but told CBS2 her boyfriend is a person of interest in the case.

"I used to see the kid. (He) was good and everything," Cabrera said. "He used to go to his games, used to play baseball."

Police said it's unclear when the victims were killed. Their bodies were removed from the apartment late Sunday night, and the medical examiner will next determine the exact cause of death.

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