A woman and a girl were found dead in a New York City apartment on Monday afternoon – along with their dog, who was reportedly found with a bag over his head.
The three bodies were found in an apartment building on New York Avenue in Brooklyn in Little Haiti, reportedly by a concerned family friend who lives in the building.
Dispatchers responded to the 911 call around 2:33 p.m. and heard that there was “blood everywhere” in the apartment and that the victims had been missing since Friday.
On Monday, family friends said the victims, identified as 37-year-old Azalea Rivas and her unnamed 14-year-old daughter, lived in the apartment with their poodle-terrier mix.
Police sources further told NBC 4 the dog had a bag over its head, while an NYPD statement said the 37-year-old was found face up in the living room with a cut on her face while the teen’s face was found knocked down with unspecified head injuries.
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The three bodies were found in an apartment building on New York Avenue in Brooklyn in Little Haiti, reportedly by a concerned family friend who lives in the building
The discovery, made around 2:33 p.m., led to a 911 call – a 911 call to which dispatchers responded with shocking radio chatter that revealed there was “blood everywhere” in the apartment – and the couple presumably mother and daughter, had been missing since Friday
Police in the 67th District are currently investigating what led to her death.
“Two women on site, unconscious; “There’s blood everywhere…they’ve been missing since Friday,” the dispatcher warns police in the frantic call, recorded around 2:45 p.m. and since shared on the Citizen app.
Sources said both victims were already dead – with the adult suffering the stab wound and the girl suffering “severe head trauma.”
Next to the girl in a bedroom was the family dog - found lifeless with a plastic bag over its head – apparently suffocated.
Reports from people familiar with the investigation – as well as neighbors who reportedly heard a commotion coming from the apartment on Friday – indicate that all of the victims, including the dog, had been dead for days.
According to a report from The Daily News, a downstairs neighbor was awakened around 7:20 a.m. Friday by the sounds of blood-curdling screams and the whimpering of a dog.
“We were woken up by loud bangs and screaming,” Steve Schor, 38, told the newspaper Monday as police remained stationed outside the building near Avenue D in East Flatbush.
“We called 911 and the police came.” When they went upstairs, no one answered. “All they heard was loud music,” he added, revealing that the woman and girl had only been living in the apartment building for a few weeks.
Reports from people familiar with the investigation – as well as neighbors who reportedly heard a commotion coming from the apartment on Friday – indicate that all of the victims, including the dog, had been dead for days
According to a report from The Daily News, a downstairs neighbor was awakened around 7:20 a.m. that day by the sound of blood-curdling screams and the whimpering of a dog
As of 10 p.m. Monday – nearly eight hours after the bodies were found – there were no immediate arrests and police were still investigating the deaths. No suspect has been named
Law enforcement sources said police had visited the home on the second floor of the building several times and a 911 call was made as recently as Friday
After knocking several times, the officers left, he said.
“After the bang, we heard the dog crying and whimpering and then it just stopped,” Schor said, before suggesting that another person was responsible for the killings.
“What I heard was pretty grotesque,” Schor added. “Obviously we heard people being murdered.
“I deeply grieve for the family. ‘I can only hope they catch this guy.’
As of 10 p.m. Monday – nearly eight hours after the bodies were found – there were no immediate arrests and police were still investigating the deaths.
Law enforcement sources also told The News that police had previously visited the home several times and that a 911 call was made as recently as Friday morning.
Between that time and the time of the discovery, the man who made the find, a 38-year-old who is currently being questioned by police, is said to have told officers that he was concerned about the welfare of the women after seeing one I received a call from a member of the police family.
As of 10 p.m. Monday – nearly eight hours after the bodies were found – there were no immediate arrests and police were still investigating the deaths.
At the time, officers were seen removing clothing and other items from the building, but they have not yet made an official statement on the case, which remained pending as of Monday evening
Concerned that he had not been able to contact the woman or her daughter, the male relative asked the unnamed tenant to view the apartment.
After knocking repeatedly without answering, he reportedly broke down the door – leading to the disturbing discovery.
It is believed he called 911, which resulted in a procession of officers entering the building in the afternoon and remaining there until the evening.
At the time, officers were seen removing clothing and other items from the building, but they have not yet made an official statement on the case.
Speaking to the News on Monday evening, a family friend mourned the loss of the mother and daughter.
“She was a loving and dedicated mother,” said the man, identified only as Paul. “She was a free spirit. Her daughter was her world. I’m just trying to take care of the people that were around her.’
has reached out to the NYPD for comment.