College Student Found Dead In Hudson River: Family Criticizes NYPD Response

The family members of a 23-year-old college student found deceased in the Hudson River on Christmas Day are saying that they are unhappy with the New York Police Department’s response to the incident.

According to the New York City Police Department, Anthony Urena, 23, of Manhattan, NY, a student at Lehman College, was last seen leaving a Manhattan night club at around 5 a.m. on Nov. 14, ABC NY reported.

Hoboken police stated that a witness reported finding Urena’s body floating in the river near Pier A Park.

• See related article: Authorities ID Man Found Dead In Hudson River Near Hoboken Waterfront

In an online petition titled “Healthy Adults Are Human Beings Too,” Judith Lopez – mother of Anthony Urena, 23, of Manhattan, NY – wrote the following allegations:

“My 23-year-old, healthy baby boy, Anthony Urena, went missing on November 14, 2015… Family and friends went to the precinct trying to make a missing person report, but because Anthony was considered a healthy young man without physical or mental illnesses, police refused to do the report.

“It took us three days after he went missing to file a report with the police. And they kept saying the same words ‘Anthony just doesn’t want to come home for now.’ Police delayed the search for my son for too long. We - the family - did most of the work for them by retracing Anthony’s steps, obtaining phone records and observing footages from local businesses with the help of the Senator of Washington Heights, Adriano Espaillat. However our findings weren’t substantial enough for some more attention.

“I find it extremely hard to believe that my son merely slipped and fell into the water or that this was suicide. I know my son very well and if there’s one thing he was looking forward to, it was his bright future. Anthony was studying to become a CPA and had big goals. Anthony is (was) a very friendly person, super easy to get along with, always willing to help others, and no matter what he was never disrespectful to others.”

Read the full petition here.