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New Haven woman’s death due to ‘compression of the neck’; Neighbors shocked

NEW HAVEN — The coroner’s office has determined the cause of death for a woman found dead in found dead in a New Haven apartment Thursday. New Haven...
Ruffin

NEW HAVEN — The coroner’s office has determined the cause of death for a woman found dead in found dead in a New Haven apartment Thursday.

New Haven police said Sherri Ann Ruffin, 52, was found dead in her home on 39D Jennings Way. The medical examiner said Ruffin died from compression of the neck and the manner of death was homicide. 

On Thursday, around 12:03 p.m., first responders received reports of a woman inside an apartment. Police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

Neighbors at the Brookside Apartment complex were shocked to see a heavy presence of police, Thursday, in a community they call quiet.

“It was really scary and when you saw all the police cars and everything out here, it was just too much,” neighbor Susan Gray said. “It was just something that you never thought would happen around here​.”

Gray described Ruffin as a very nice person with a good heart. She said she often kept to herself but the two were friends.

“I went in the house and cried,” she said.

Abida Jones lives a few doors down and said she considered Ruffin as one of her best friends

“It’s hard because my family lives in New Jersey, I have family in Puerto Rico but I don’t have family up here in Connecticut, she was like the closest person I would call if I need something,” Jones said. “I’m so in pain in my heart that she had to leave like that, in that bad way.”

Benito Rosario said he’s lived in the complex for 10 months and said it’s now hard to leave his home. He has since installed an alarm.

“I feel very nervous after that,” Rosario said. “I can’t sleep.”

He said police have been stopping by to check on neighbors but he’s hoping they consider adding security to the complex.

“Get him off the street, I mean they might come back in this neighborhood,” Gray said. “I would love for them to catch him and I hope they do.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call detectives at 203-946-6304. Calls may be made anonymously.This investigation remains open and active with no known suspect, police said.

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