Police Say Woman Was Dead 6-12 Hours Before Being Found At Jersey City Motel

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Jersey City police have released a few more details about the death of a woman at a Jersey City motel on Friday, whom Hoboken family members and friends have said is Hoboken mom and advocate Kyelia Colon.

Neighbors and family have continued to post tributes on social media and to mourn Colon, 48.

On Tuesday, Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., who grew up near Colon in the Hoboken Housing Authority neighborhood, said he'd known her since he was a child.

"Kyelia was extremely nice person, extremely reliable, honest," he said. "She told you exactly how it was. Whether I was doing a good job, bad job, she let me know about it. She was always very nice, very lovable, great sense of humor, great personality. She loved everyone and tried to look out for everyone. She'll be sorely missed by a lot of people."

Ramos said that several well-known people in the Hoboken Housing Authority neighborhood passed away in recent months, young and old, and with Colon's death, it's been "overwhelming."

He said that on Saturday, "everyone in the neighborhood was outside the family's house" mourning.

More Details

On Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Jersey City Police Department said, "The JCPD’s Major Case Unit is doing everything possible as they actively investigate her death. Police are awaiting the medical examiner’s report to confirm the female’s identification and cause of death."

Police said that she had been dead approximately 6-12 hours before she was found around noon on Friday.

The spokesperson added, "The medical examiner did confirm that the female appeared to be deceased approximately 6-12 hours before she was found. The JCPD does not have the incident associated with any other homicides."

The city had previously said that at 12:04 p.m. on Friday, police were called to 380 Tonnelle Ave., the official address of the Skyway Motel on Route 9.

The woman there was found "unresponsive" and pronounced dead at the scene, a Jersey City police spokesperson said.

Family members had said Colon had been missing since Wednesday, and they believed a man was responsible for taking her — prompting concerns that a criminal is on the loose. But officials have not commented on the cause of death or possible suspects.

Advocate For Neighbors

Hoboken residents have said Colon was an advocate for her neighbors, and had protested against violence.

Barbara Reyes, who has served on the Hoboken Housing Authority Board, wrote Monday, "I never thought I would be writing this about Kyelia. I must say this one is a hard one to swallow. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Colon while advocating together for the HHA years ago. She was a true advocate for the HHA community, while being a devoted mother to her children and devoted daughter to her mother.

"I ask please pray for her family and our community," she wrote. "Her family lost a daughter, sister, mother and our community lost an advocate. I pray justice is served for Kyeila."

A relative wrote on Colon's Facebook wall, "I can’t stop crying I can’t believe this I just can't believe it."

Omar Dyer wrote, "Kyelia, was our advocate for social justice; she was that person you would call if you wanted to protest against violence. As a community we should honor her legacy by living the imprint she left behind. And fight for the cause she stood up for. I will always be grateful for protecting me from bullying when I was a child."

Social media users have posted photos of a man they said may have had something to do with Colon's death.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office and Hoboken police both referred all questions to the Jersey City police.