Michelle Montgomery, 39-year-old NYC mother, found dead in Brooklyn NYCHA basement, body chopped into pieces, police investigate

In a deeply unsettling case unfolding in Brooklyn, New York City, police are investigating the dismembered death of a 39-year-old mother, whose body was found in a black plastic bag in the basement of a NYCHA building on Sunday morning. The victim, identified by authorities as Michelle Montgomery, was a married mother of four who lived just a few miles from where her remains were discovered.

At approximately 9:40 am on Sunday, NYCHA maintenance workers discovered the bag containing Montgomery’s body in a basement area of The Borinquen Public Houses at 330 Bushwick Avenue, a complex on the border of Williamsburg and Bushwick.

The NYPD and the city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are actively investigating the incident and working to determine the cause and manner of death.



At this stage, no arrests have been made, and it remains unclear whether Montgomery had any known connection to the building where her remains were found. Law enforcement has not publicly disclosed suspect information or indicated a motive pending further forensic and investigative work.

Victim’s background

Montgomery’s husband, Anthony Echevarria, described his wife as vibrant and happy during her last known sighting. According to him, Montgomery had gone out with friends the night before the discovery, an uncommon occurrence given her responsibilities caring for their four children, including a 10-month-old son, as well as an 11 and 12-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son.

Echevarria reportedly expressed profound grief and frustration, noting that he has received little information from authorities regarding how his wife died or why her body ended up in the basement. He said that Montgomery left home “alive, vibrant, happy” and never returned.

Residents of the NYCHA complex have reacted with shock and concern, especially over unanswered questions about safety and security in the building. Some nearby tenants described how maintenance staff accessed a small room via a silver door where the remains were found.

While authorities have kept details limited, the discovery of a dismembered body in a residential building’s basement underscores the unsettled reaction among locals and the broader community.