Momof2slain
Vic’s dad: Beau fesses after missing gal’s body found in Bx.
THE BODY of a missing Mount Vernon mother of two was found in the Bronx Friday – and her boyfriend was in police custody, the victim’s family said.
Police recovered 27-year-old Ashley McDuffie’s body dumped in the woods inside Seton Falls Park near E. 233rd St. in Edenwald just south of the Mount Vernon border, the victim’s father, Ricky McDuffie, confirmed.
The father told the Daily News that Ashley’s boyfriend had turned himself in with a lawyer earlier Friday. He said that the boyfriend confessed to strangling her and told police where to find the body.
But as of Friday night authorities had not announced any charges in the case and would not release the suspect’s name.
McDuffie’s family had reported Ashley missing last week after she did not pick up her two children, aged 3 and 6, days after dropping them off for a two-day visit at their grandmother’s house in Stamford, Conn., Ricky McDuffie, 52, said.
The doting mom had packed each child two days’ of clothing, but the family’s concern grew when no one heard from her during that time, her father said.
Ashley (photo) had not even called to speak to her beloved kids on the phone or in a video chat, as she normally does, the dad said.
“That’s not like her. She doesn’t go a day without speaking to her children,” Ricky McDuffie told The News. “That raised a red flag.” He said the family filed a missing persons report Aug. 19.
The victim studied criminal justice at Monroe College, her dad said.
“She was a well-rounded young lady, very liked,” her dad said.
“If a friend came by and needed help, she would always help. A very giving young lady.”
A neighbor at Ashley’s former home in New Rochelle said Ashley had recently found work as a security guard.
The neighbor, 62-year-old Deloris Fearon, said she was devastated to learn of McDuffie’s fate.
“I’m tearing up about it,” Fearon said.
“I’m so shocked. She was such a nice girl.”