A Central Park artist known for her bird paintings has been identified in news reports as a fatal attack victim.
The New York Post identified the woman as Lee Rogers, 63, a familiar figure among birdwatchers who bought her wildlife watercolors. Police found her dead in a gazebo near the park’s boathouse on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Authorities had not publicly released the victim’s name pending family notification, according to ABC7’s latest report.
Suspect Faces Murder Charge
Police charged Jonathan Robles, 36, with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, amNewYork reported, citing police sources.
Officers responding to a call about an unconscious person found the woman with head injuries near East 74th Street and East Drive at about 9:43 a.m. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Although initial reports described stab wounds, police later said investigators believed the attacker struck her with a wooden stick. Investigators have not publicly established a motive. The charges against Robles remain allegations.
A Familiar Artist Among Birdwatchers
Friends remembered Rogers for her detailed paintings and knowledge of the animals she observed.
Nature guide Robert DeCandido, known as “Birding Bob,” told the Post that birdwatchers supported her by purchasing her artwork. He compared her to the American folk painter Grandma Moses.
Joe Lopez, another friend, owned a painting she made of Pale Male, the red-tailed hawk closely associated with Central Park. He told ABC7 New York that she had also cared for the park’s bird feeders.
Friends Remember More Than Her Homelessness
Rogers experienced homelessness over many years, spending periods in shelters and living around the park, according to friends. Her paintings helped her connect with people who regularly visited.
Those mourning her emphasized that she was an individual with talent, friendships and a deep interest in wildlife.
“To people she's a nobody but to us who were regular here, she's a somebody,” one friend told ABC7.
