Questions and details are rising out of the sad and peculiar death of well respected New York Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. The latest inside...
Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge on the New York Court of Appeals, was found dead in the Hudson River on Wednesday. Police have initially suspected the death as "likely a suicide." She was the first black woman to be appointed to a seat on New York's highest court. While Judge Abdus-Salaam, 65, had reached some of the highest career achievements of a judge, her personal life (and work life) had its struggles.
But it was also a life marked by personal tragedy. Her brother committed suicide three years ago around this time of year, two law enforcement sources told CNN on Thursday. Abdus-Salaam, 65, had also been stressed recently at work, the sources said.
@nytimes Theres alot of speculation from suicide to Russian assassins. .but something doesn't sit right. I hope its solved soon..for her familys sake
— keekee78 (@cowell_karina) April 13, 2017
@nytimes That's beyond peculiar, prayfully, #NewYork will CSI-Level investigate.
— Bleuea (@Bleuea) April 13, 2017
@nytimes I'm not much on conspiracy theories but in view of events of last yr events,would seriously consider murdered, if she investigated 45.
— doc (@jemakatz) April 13, 2017
The judge was last heard from about 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the sources. Abdus-Salaam's husband told police his wife's secretary received a call from the judge saying she wouldn't be into work that day. Police responded to a 911 call about a person floating in the Hudson around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Detectives say no suicide note was found. She was also found fully dressed in workout gear.
The NY Times reports:
The last time someone heard from Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam apparently was on Tuesday when she called her chambers in the Graybar Building in Manhattan to say she wasn’t well and would not be coming in. At some point, she had left her apartment in Harlem, law enforcement officials said, departing without her wallet and cellphone, and locking the door behind her.
When Judge Abdus-Salaam — the first black woman to serve on New York State’s highest court — failed to appear at work on Wednesday, her assistant grew concerned and contacted her husband, who reported her missing, the law enforcement officials said. Then that afternoon, there was a terrible discovery: The judge’s body floating, fully clothed and with no apparent signs of trauma, in the Hudson River.
Police have not yet relayed the exact cause of death, but they did say this:
"Obviously, we're still waiting for the full investigation, but to the extent that the challenges and the stresses in her life contributed to this, it's a reminder that even the most accomplished people still deal with extraordinary challenges inward, and we don't get to see that," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters Thursday. "It is humbling. It's a sad day. Someone who got so far and was lost so soon."
In other unfortunate news, Cook County Associate judge Raymond Myles, 66, was shot dead outside of his Chicago home on Monday. The FBI is assisting the Chicago Police Department in the investigation and is offering a $25,000 reward for any information about the shooting.
Our sincerest condolences to the friends and families of both Judge Myles and Judge Abdus-Salaam.
Photo: AP
