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Brutal Dismemberment Murder of Wealthy NY Woman in Panama |
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Friday, 13 April 2007 |
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VIDEO WCBS-TV Panama City Toni Grossi-Abrams spent much of her time at her Staten Island apartment, but she spent much of her money in Panama. Why would someone want to kill an affluent American woman in Central America? That's the question Panamanian police are desperately trying to answer.
Grossi-Abrams' badly burned body was recently found near a Panama City soccer field. Panamanian investigators believe she was killed in her own apartment and then rolled out of the building in a suitcase. Investigators also believe the killers set fire to her body to conceal the crime.
"I want to thank the authorities down here in Panama," Seth Redlich, Grossi-Abrams' cousin, told CBS 2 in a phone interview. "I have to say they're doing an amazing job in investigating this crime, this horrible crime, and I'm very confident they'll bring people involved to justice."
The victim is listed as a trustee and a sponsor of the Staten Island Museum. A wealthy and prominent member of the community, Grossi-Abrams believed in Staten Island and she believed in Panama. While investing in Panama's future, her life was taken.
"She was an absolutely amazing woman, who put her community first," Redlich said. "I know on Staten Island she was very active in the community and very busy. She was fun, and just a great person with an amazing heart, and I'm sure everyone who knows her will remember her that way and have an amazing story about her."
Grossi-Abrams was clearly murdered, but why?
Did the killers know their target was a wealthy American widow? And if so, were they after her money?
Panamanian police had three suspects in custody Thursday night, two Panamanians and an American woman who was renting an apartment owned by the victim. Police are also looking for three possible suspects from Colombia, but the motive for the murder remains a mystery.
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