Search For Answers After 91-Year-Old Nicholas Rappa Found Dead After Being Tied Up, Beaten, Possibly Suffocated In His Pelham Manor Garage

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD is investigating the death of a 91-year-old man who was found tied up inside his garage in the Bronx.

Sources say police are looking to question a man wearing a construction vest who was seen talking to the victim.

As CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reports, police were first called to the home on Wickham Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a robbery.

Police say 91-year-old Nicholas Rappa was found unconscious inside his garage, tied up with an electrical cord, and it looked like he had been beaten and possibly suffocated.

Officers say a white truck was spotted circling the area. Then a man in an orange construction vest was seen talking to the 91-year-old. Investigators say they went into the garage.

Officers are looking at robbery as a possible motive, but it’s not clear what, if anything, was taken.

“It’s heartbreaking, especially this gentleman. He’s been here forever. We used to watch him take a look at his garden. He’s an Italian guy with a garden  – grapes and stuff like that,” a man named Mario said.

“I can’t imagine how can someone do this to an elderly man. What was the point to harm someone in that way?” said Melanie Ang.

“Now I feel nervous because I take that way every day,” one person said.

Police say the man’s elderly wife was home at the time and was never aware of what was happening.

Officers are still waiting on autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.

from CBS New York https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/08/04/nicholas-rappa-death/
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