‘FRIENDLY TO EVERYBODY’
Friend IDs jewelry of Jane Doe
The former roommate of a 22-year-old woman whose skeletal remains were found last week in woods in Dedham called police after he saw images of her jewelry police publicized to help identify Susan Anyanwu-Corbin.
“I remember the day she bought them downtown, I said, ‘You’re crazy, why do you buy this stuff for?’ She said ‘I like them.’ She really liked those bracelets. When I saw them, I thought, ‘God damn, let me call them,’ ” said Widny Philemond of Hyde Park, former roommate of Anyanwu-Corbin, whose remains were found April 4.
News reports of the discovery of the-then Jane Doe — later identified as Anyanwu-Corbin — included photos showing a copy of the Marist College sweatshirt she wore along with the actual ring and bracelet with a “peace” charm found with the remains. A medical examiner was able to confirm her identity through dental records, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said yesterday during a news conference
Philemond, 24, spoke to the Herald yesterday on the steps of the Hyde Park apartment he once shared with Anyanwu-Corbin, 22, a native of Nigeria. He said his deceased friend was “friendly to everybody.”
“It was hurting me a lot, because we didn’t think she was dead,” Philemond said.
Morrissey said he hopes the public would once again step up to help determine facts behind her disappearance and death.
“Now that we have a name attached to the body, we are looking for information about her disappearance. People who may have socialized with her, may have resided with her, worked with her, corresponded on Facebook or even been socially friendly with her,” Morrissey said.
He added, “The information developed at this point does not establish there was or was not foul play associated with her disappearance and death. And there are a number of important questions still to be answered here.”
Boston police said Anyanwu-Corbin was reported missing by an uncle on May 9, 2016. She was last seen Feb. 11 of that year.
Boston police are assisting Dedham police and state police with Morrissey’s office in the investigation. The medical examiner has not determined the cause and manner of her death.
Junior Bernard, 24, of Dorchester, said he dated Anyanwu-Corbin until her disappearance.
“She is a loveable person, everybody likes her. She was friendly, doesn’t drink or smoke. She liked having fun and that’s the type of person she was,” Bernard said.
Bernard remembered the exact date he met his ex-beau: June 27, 2014.
“I remember I went to school to get the MCAS results to see if I passed the test. She was there, too. We started talking and became friends and then we started dating.”
The last day he saw her, Bernard said, he gave her money for a cab ride home. The next day he called and texted, but no one answered. He called her father, but he had not heard from her.
Boston Adult Technical Academy Headmaster Benjamin Helfat said of his ex-pupil, “Susan was popular and enthusiastic, and she always had a warm presence in our school. She was insightful and generous in her contributions to class discussions. Susan was a resilient and determined student despite her life obstacles.”