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Lady’s decapitated, butchered body discovered floating near Red Hook harbor

Lady’s decapitated, butchered body discovered floating near Red Hook harbor
Photo by Paul Martinka

A woman’s headless, dismembered body was found floating in the water near Red Hook on Tuesday morning.

A local man and his wife discovered the torso while walking their dog near Pier 44 at the foot of Conover Street around 11:20 am, after first thinking it was a prop.

“I looked at it from a distance and thought ‘Hey, that’s a mannequin or a blow up doll’ ” said the local, who asked not to be identified. “My wife said, ‘No, it looks like the shape of a woman — or what was a woman,’ so we moved closer and said, ‘Holy s— that’s a woman.’ ”

The body was chopped at the knees and had no arms, with its intestines oozing out of the torso, according to the man, who said he thought the woman was likely the victim of a gruesome murder.

“Her guts were spilling out,” he said. “It was a hit, a calculated murder.”

There is a tattoo in Sanskrit on the left thigh of the torso, which police hope will identify the victim.

The pair frequently walk their pooch in the area where they found the woman’s body, calling it their favorite spot for its waterfront views — but strolling in that vicinity no longer has quite the same charm, the witness said.

“It’ll never be the same again,” he said.

Authorities did not confirm the state of the body when it was found.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577–8477. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

Reach reporter Lauren Gill at lgill@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260–2511. Follow her on Twitter @laurenk_gill