Stamford Woman's Death Ruled Homicide, Husband Person of Interest

STAMFORD, CT — Police are investigating a homicide at a Courtland Avenue apartment after a 5-year-old girl was found wandering alone at a Port Authority Bus Terminal Monday morning. The girl is the daughter of a woman found dead in a possible Stamford homicide.

Elmer Gomez Ruano is wanted for questioning of the homicide as of Tuesday afternoon. The death appears to have involved a domestic incident, according to the Stamford Advocate. He had been working as a dishwasher at the Bedford Street Diner

Stamford Police went to a Courtland Avenue apartment after being notified by police that a 5-year-old girl found alone at the Midtown Bus terminal in New York City around 10:12 a.m. Monday. The girl told police her mother lives in Stamford.

"They called us and asked us to follow up on that," said Capt. Richard Conklin, police spokesman. "Officers were sent there and located the child’s mother decreased."

There was an apparent struggle at the apartment.

The woman is approximately 30-years-old and is a Guatemalan national, Conklin said. She had apparently moved to Stamford on Sunday from New Jersey. An autopsy will likely take place Tuesday.

The girl's father, Elmer Gomez-Ruano, 32, is a person of interest and wanted for questioning by Stamford Police. He is approximately 5'8'' tall about 140 pounds and has long black hair, a medium build and medium complexion.

"She is unharmed," a Port Authority police spokesman said of the 5-year-old girl. "She is in good physical condition. Investigation continues."

Citing unnamed police sources, ABC7 reported that detectives believe the girl's father may have abandoned her there after killing her mother in Stamford.

Anyone with information about Gomez-Ruono's whereabouts is asked to contact Stamford Police at 203-589-3546.

Additional reporting by Simone Wilson (Patch Staff)