Joggers Find Woman's Body In Newark Lake (Do You Know Her?)

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County authorities are asking for help identifying a deceased woman discovered in a lake at Weequahic Park in Newark on March 3.

According to a Friday statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office:

“At approximately 10:30 a.m., two joggers were running in the Weequahic Park track and observed what appeared to be a human body floating in the lake around the golf course entrance area. They called 911 and the Essex County Sheriff Department responded and made a confirmation of a dead body in the water. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force was called in and together with the county Medical Examiner’s Office, pulled the body out of the water.”

Police arriving on the scene to investigate the situation soon discovered a second deceased body floating in a separate section of the lake while canvassing the park and lake area. Authorities later identified the deceased man as Antoine Bennett, 24, of Newark.

Based on the information gathered so far, the incidents do not appear to be related, Essex County prosecutors said.

“The condition of the bodies suggests they were [left in the park] at substantially different times,” prosecutors stated.

• See related article: 2 Bodies Found In Lake At Weequahic Park In Newark (UPDATED)

On Friday, police announced that they are seeking the public’s help identifying the deceased female. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office described her as between 5 feet and 5 feet 5 inches and from 100 to 120 pounds. She had a “very distinctive” tattoo on her body, authorities said. (See below sketch by a State Police composite artist)

Anyone with information that might be helpful in identifying the woman can contact Detective Wilfredo Perez at (973) 985-9971, or to call the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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Artist sketch courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office