BROOKLYN, New York — NYPD Detectives arrested 40-year-old Ilene Renee Lazar in connection with the murder and dismemberment of Maureen Riccio; whose remains were discovered in Micco on May 14, 2013.
Lazar was arrested in Brooklyn, New York, after an arrest warrant was issued in Brevard County, Florida, charging her as an Accessory after the Fact to Premeditated Murder and Tampering with Evidence.
Lazar will be held without bond and faces extradition to Brevard County on these charges. Her co-defendant, Francis Riccio, also of Brooklyn, New York, is currently contesting extradition back to Florida.
The investigation was initiated on May 14, 2013, when skeletal remains were discovered by a maintenance employee during a service call to the cellular tower located on Willowbrook Road in Micco, Florida. The autopsy conducted by the Brevard County Medical Examiner concluded that the victim died as a result of blunt force trauma and classified the death as a homicide.
Identification of the victim was eventually accomplished, and the investigation determined that the victim, who is a native of New York, moved to Brevard County, Florida in late 2012. Her last known address was located at 319 Patrick Circle in Melbourne, Florida, which she shared with her son, Lazar and three children.
Based on the investigation, agents say that they determined that Lazar assisted Francis Riccio with the dismemberment of the deceased. Lazar allegedly assisted Riccio with the cleanup of the homicide scene and transported the body to the disposal location in Micco. Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to call the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
All calls to CRIMELINE are confidential, and callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest.
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