$12,000 Reward Offered In Elderly Bronx Woman's Murder

Officials offered a $12,000 reward Monday for information leading to the killer of an elderly woman found dead in her Bronx apartment over the weekend.

Investigators say a relative found Evelyn Shapiro, 88, dead Saturday morning inside her fifth-floor apartment at the Pelham Parkway Houses in Allerton, where she had lived for more than 50 years.

Shapiro's body was found on the floor with head trauma.

Investigators say Shapiro's door was unlocked and there were grocery bags scattered about, an indication that she had just returned from shopping.

Police were looking into robbery as a possible motive but would not say if anything was stolen.

Neighbors who live doors away from Shapiro's apartment said they were concerned for their safety.

"The person that did it is really a monster to do it to an 88-year-old lady. How could he have the heart to do it to someone so nice," said Johnny Berrios, a neighbor. "I had to make sure my doors are locked, make sure no one is going to break in. I don't know, it's hard I have to always be looking at my back and make sure nothing is gonna happen to me. 

"Everyone in my family is very nervous and worried that something like this would happen and nobody knows how it happened. It happened so suddenly and no one knows who did it," said neighbor Richard Santana.

The residents said Shapiro's murder has highlighted the lack of surveillance cameras at the Pelham Parkway Houses. They said for years they have been told there is simply no funding.

On Tuesday, people will have the chance to raise that concern once again during an emergency meeting to discuss Shapiro's death.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, by texting TIP577 to CRIMES, or by going toNYPDCrimeStoppers.com.

By: Natasha Ghoneim