NYC Elevator Molotov Cocktail Murderer Was Older Woman’s Boyfriend

The 47-year old man whom police believe Saturday afternoon torched a 64-year old woman in her Brooklyn, New York City apartment elevator, has turned himself into authorities, and reports from neighbors now suggest that the unnamed man who murdered Doris Gillespie (also reported as Delores Gillespie) was her boyfriend and had lived or was still living with Gillespie at the time of the gruesome attack.

“The man came into a transit police station close to the apartment building where the attack took place early Sunday morning—he was ‘reeking of gasoline,’ according to cops,” Gothamist reports:

Neighbors told the Daily News that the suspect lived with Gillespie until recently, and was often seen collecting bottles and cans outside. The Post says that the suspect “is believed to be a current or former boyfriend.” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne confirmed that the two did know each other.

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Heidi Matthews told the Post she knew Gillespie for decades, and she worked for the Post Office: “This is devastating. She was a fixture in the neighborhood for years. This is unreal. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for you. She bought me flowers for Mothers’ Day.” Neighbor Chris Martinez added that no one could understand why someone would want ot harm her: “I’m in shock. We didn’t know she had any enemies.”

Gillespie’s friend Dorinda Thomas described her to the Post as a “wonderful lady” who always cared for the community: “Everybody in the neighborhood would tell you, anything she had in her house she’d give you.” She added that Gillespie was “desperately afraid” of the 47-year-old suspect. She also claimed that Gillespie had complained to the cops about the man before.

NY1 News has a video of the crime scene available on their site. They add:

“She was so nice, and she wouldn’t hardly be in her house because she’d be out here, doing what she could for the people,” said one resident.

“She cared about people, especially in her building. So when she come in, she always greet you, ask you, she always tell you what’s going on,” said another.