New England Gazzette

Ozone Park, N.Y. — A disturbing homicide investigation in Queens has drawn renewed attention after police arrested a 75-year-old man accused of killing his wife following the discovery of human remains in multiple locations, according to law-enforcement sources.

Authorities say the suspect, Rupchand Simboo, originally from Guyana, was taken into custody after investigators linked him to the death of his 34-year-old wife, Salisha Ali. Ali was reported to be from Trinidad and Tobago. Police say the couple had been living together in South Ozone Park.

The case first began unfolding in September 2025 when sanitation workers discovered a decomposed torso wrapped in tape and rope inside a garbage bag near Idlewild Park, a marshland area close to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The remains were missing the head, arms and legs, making identification difficult at the time.

For months, investigators worked to determine the identity of the victim while searching for additional evidence. The investigation took a major turn earlier this month when a human head was discovered at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Forensic testing later confirmed it belonged to the same victim.

Authorities say the remains were eventually identified as Ali, who had been reported missing earlier in 2025.

According to police, Simboo had filed a missing persons report for his wife in July 2025, stating she had disappeared after being seen during a FaceTime call. As detectives continued examining the timeline and forensic evidence, attention turned toward the couple’s home and Simboo’s statements to investigators.

On Wednesday morning, officers arrested Simboo at the residence he shared with Ali. He now faces charges including murder, obstruction and tampering with evidence, according to law-enforcement officials.

Police have not publicly disclosed a motive, and prosecutors are expected to present additional details as the case moves through the court system.

The case has shocked residents in Queens neighborhoods where the remains were discovered. Idlewild Park and the surrounding marshlands near JFK Airport are areas where workers occasionally find discarded debris, but the discovery of human remains has unsettled many in the community.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue working to reconstruct the events leading up to Ali’s death.

The incident has also renewed attention on domestic violence cases that escalate behind closed doors. Advocates say such situations can turn deadly without intervention, and officials continue to urge anyone experiencing abuse to seek help and report threats before violence occurs.