NY - Orsolya Gaal, 51, body found in duffel bag, Queens, Apr 2022

[citizen_sleuth]

I wonder whether or not the police have audio from the video doorbell/surveillance footage. I know Ring cameras in particular record audio. If the perpetrator was dragging this heavy hockey bag around, I could imagine them making some noise as they struggled with the weight which could potentially help determine whether it is a man or woman.

 

[Gardenista]

Video of him dragging the bag

Queens Duffel Bag Murder: Mom Stabbed 58 Times, Sources Say – NBC New York

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Wow I wonder if the spare key was to that side door were they followed the blood trail back too? If he had a key he could of easily snuck in the house and literally came up behind her, covered her mouth and began stabbing her in the neck and carotid artery. She would of bled out quickly and passed out. I am trying to figure out how this could happen quickly enough for her to not scream and alert her son but also how she was still able to get defensive wounds on her fingers.

But how and why did she get into the basement? If she had just gotten home from a night out with some friends, wouldn't she be on the first floor and second (assuming her bedroom with her husband was on the second floor)? Then the son would certainly have probably heard something. If she was in bed when a killer entered the house, how'd he convince her to go 2 floors lower? Or did he "get lucky" and find her already down there? Or is it Occam's Razor as it often is...

 

[Filly]

OG hadn't posted anything publicly about her specific plans for that weekend, although her husband did tweet about him and the oldest son being out of the area for a college tour, perhaps the perpetrator saw it and knew she and the young son would be home alone?

Good thinking. My brother's friend bet him he could empty his entire house without anyone knowing due to FB I call it Tracebook.

No, no, my brother's all careful. Well between grown kids tweets, Instagram, brother's lady friends SM, and even his ex wife his friend pinpointed it. Very sad. Almost victim shaming. There's too many lunatics around this world.

 

[wildflower22]

One thing to consider referring to the dialect of the text sent to HK, a person's vocabulary can be highly influenced by the literature he/she reads, movies, friends/family, interests, etc.

 

[mysteryfan96]

It was interesting that they returned to the house today to remove items. Maybe they received the information they needed to obtain a search warrant.

Very telling, if you ask me.

I’m guessing that there was, in fact, someone from the family’s past who was arrested due to the mom (former employee, worker, tradesman, etc… maybe for something like property theft, embezzlement, etc). To just randomly claim that via text without it happening wouldn’t make much sense. But I’m also guessing that someone close to the victim knew of this incarcerated person and knew he would be an easy scapegoat to point the police towards in the investigation. Just my guess.

 

[citizen_sleuth]

Video of him dragging the bag

Queens Duffel Bag Murder: Mom Stabbed 58 Times, Sources Say – NBC New York

After seeing the video, it looks like a young person. And it looks like they are wearing a backpack. MOO.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Video of him dragging the bag

Queens Duffel Bag Murder: Mom Stabbed 58 Times, Sources Say – NBC New York

Ah, finally, the video. Thank you! That person is moving AWFULLY quickly if they are pulling, say 120-150lbs of person. And definitely carrying something in the right hand as was speculated before. Unless there was a little incline there so it was mildly downhill. Even 1 degree would make a difference.

 

[Watching281]

But how and why did she get into the basement? If she had just gotten home from a night out with some friends, wouldn't she be on the first floor and second (assuming her bedroom with her husband was on the second floor)? Then the son would certainly have probably heard something. If she was in bed when a killer entered the house, how'd he convince her to go 2 floors lower? Or did he "get lucky" and find her already down there? Or is it Occam's Razor as it often is...

I know so many questions.

The key detail is new and interesting.

 

[epiphany]

Video of him dragging the bag

Queens Duffel Bag Murder: Mom Stabbed 58 Times, Sources Say – NBC New York

From the video:

Multiple police sources spoke to NBC

Have now identified a POI

A Man who knew the victim and

who had access to the home

NYPD are trying to track him down right now to speak to him

Perp is moving quickly and easily along as seen on video

 

[mysteryfan96]

I wonder whether or not the police have audio from the video doorbell/surveillance footage. I know Ring cameras in particular record audio. If the perpetrator was dragging this heavy hockey bag around, I could imagine them making some noise as they struggled with the weight which could potentially help determine whether it is a man or woman.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the police do in fact have more video evidence of the perp dragging the bag but haven’t released it to the public because they’ve already identified who it is.

I think the police already know who did it and are simply collecting even more evidence at this point to make it an open and shut case. Plus, choosing how to prosecute this case could end up being a consideration in this case, if you catch my drift. There might be other, um, “factors” of a sensitive nature to consider.

But some sites are already reporting the police have zeroed in on a person of interest. How quickly that came about is also super telling.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I think we are about to take a very strange turn.

What can possibly make this more strange than it already is? Space aliens?

 

[Arkay]

The whole murder was incredibly sloppy- from the sheer amount of overkill, to the undoubtedly messy crime scene, to the timing of the kill with a child/potential witness in the house, to the incredibly obvious ruse of a text sent afterwards, to the dragging of the body over half a mile in an athletic bag for cameras all along the path to catch.

Some commenters have suggested that because of the victim supposedly meeting up with a man that she might have been having an affair and that would point to the husband hiring a killer while he was out of town. But I find that HIGHLY unlikely, because hitmen don’t stab their victims 60 times and then drag the body in plain sight. A hitman also likely wouldn’t announce his murder via text message and then take efforts to conceal the body. Those two actions contradict one another. Murderers move a body to conceal aspects of the crime or the crime itself. It makes zero sense to hide a body and then text people “hey, I murdered your loved one and you’re next”.

As it has been stated already here and elsewhere, a murder involving 60 stab wound indicates extreme rage and anger towards the victim and almost certainly points to a personal relationship to the victim.

There is one scenario that perfectly fits all of the evidence and timeline provided by the police/media, and it’s one that I won’t say out of fear of violating site terms. But it’s the one I’m sure many here are already thinking.

Why would the killing occur when dad and older brother are away?

What type of person has a lot of pent up anger?

Why wouldn’t the perp drive the body to a separate location instead of walking it?

Who would have knowledge of the husband’s name in the victim’s phone in order to send the “threatening” text?

Who would think to use a hockey bag as a means of transporting a body?

Who would be so sloppy in all phases of a murder, someone with advanced intelligence or someone more on the immature side?

Why would so many personal items from the house be removed as evidence by the police? Crime scene evidence is usually recorded at the scene and carried away in the form of photos, swabs, etc. Large items like computers are more often removed from the home of suspects, not as often for the victims.

Guess in theory it could be many different people, but in my opinion those questions all point towards one suspect.

While I certainly agree that these details seem to have an implication, and we've all been circling around it here since the beginning, we really don't know yet.

The police say that it's a man she knew and they are trying to track him down. That would suggest it is NOT the person to whom you refer, because that person's whereabouts are known.

But--we here at WS have seen it all, right? We are true crime buffs. Sometimes it's the obvious suspect and sometimes it's the last person anyone would suspect. Sometimes it's planned and sometimes it's spontaneous. So we wait and see. Personally, I'm still vacillating as to whom I think is the murderer.

 

[Watching281]

Ah, finally, the video. Thank you! That person is moving AWFULLY quickly if they are pulling, say 120-150lbs of person. And definitely carrying something in the right hand as was speculated before. Unless there was a little incline there so it was mildly downhill. Even 1 degree would make a difference.

It looks like a man not a teen now since I saw the video. I agree with the backpack and the shoulder looks normal now. Wow he is moving quickly and effortlessly.
I also noticed that it was said the suspect texted the Husband at 5am so that would be after he disposed of the body at the entrance to the park. Why though? Why take the body .5 miles on sidewalks in front of houses with LOUD wheels in a hockey bag just to leave it on the sidewalk out in the open???? It doesn’t make sense to me. Why not just leave it in the basement and send a text and leave?

 

[mysteryfan96]

While I certainly agree that these details seem to have an implication, and we've all been circling around it here since the beginning, we really don't know yet.

The police say that it's a man she knew and they are trying to track him down. That would suggest it is NOT the person to whom you refer, because that person's whereabouts are known.

But--we here at WS have seen it all, right? We are true crime buffs. Sometimes it's the obvious suspect and sometimes it's the last person anyone would suspect. Sometimes it's planned and sometimes it's spontaneous. So we wait and see. Personally, I'm still vacillating as to whom I think is the murderer.

Very true. It could very well end up being a male acquaintance of the victim and family who had access to the home. And I did read where the police are looking to speak with him.

But I just think it would be incredibly stupid for him to text the husband that he killed his wife for revenge for getting him sent away. I mean, that would be just signing a statement of guilt and pointing the police right at him. But expecting the unexpected in crime is sometimes the right answer. So I guess it’s possible.

 

[DizzyB]

What can possibly make this more strange than it already is? Space aliens?

Once there is an arrest, I think there will be lots of strange stuff to delve through-regardless of who the murderer is.

 

[clearskies1]

Re leaving the bag on the side of the road -- maybe the wheels broke on the bag and/or the person ran out of steam after stabbing someone 60 times and wheeling a 100+ pound bag a half a mile. JMO.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

If the POI is a "man who knew the victim and had access to the home" - what on earth did she do to warrant being slaughtered like that?

If it was the supposed person who has surfaced from jail to harm her family, surely they would have changed the locks - or - that isn't even relevant as the text messages indicate this person knew her from a previous nearby address, so that just seems "off" completely. He'd have no access to the current residence.

Who would have access to the home? A new handyman? Would a friend of one of her son's know where the house key is kept and why would they want to kill her? Unless she got home that night and found some illicit activity going on in the house as was speculated earlier and such friend of the son knew she was going to speak to the parent the next day about it. But the wording was "a man" is POI, not a "male" which could indicate a minor.

If she was having an affair, would a lover have access to the home given that she has 2 children who live there? i.e., she's not alone in the house even if perhaps her spouse is away on business often (guessing here - no idea if he is) so doubtful a lover would have a key.

All MOO and speculation.

 

[citizen_sleuth]

While I certainly agree that these details seem to have an implication, and we've all been circling around it here since the beginning, we really don't know yet.

The police say that it's a man she knew and they are trying to track him down. That would suggest it is NOT the person to whom you refer, because that person's whereabouts are known.

But--we here at WS have seen it all, right? We are true crime buffs. Sometimes it's the obvious suspect and sometimes it's the last person anyone would suspect. Sometimes it's planned and sometimes it's spontaneous. So we wait and see. Personally, I'm still vacillating as to whom I think is the murderer.

I agree. I don't think the person being referenced is responsible, but the police haven't stated that the person being alluded to was alone that night, just that they never left the house. The fact that the police identified a person of interest but haven't released a name suggests a need to tread carefully, which points toward extenuating circumstances. MOO.

 

[clearskies1]

Either the person is totally crazy and implicated himself with the details in the text or it's a complete red herring that no one would ever buy. JMO.