Eridania Rodriguez, Murdered Sister of Victor Martinez Identified

by Tina Kells | July 13, 2009 at 12:47 pm

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A New York medical examiner has positively identified the body found in a Manhattan skyscraper as Eridania Rodriguez, 46. Eridania Rodriguez was a cleaning woman in the office tower where her body was found. Rodriguez had claimed she was being stalked shortly before her death and was reportedly afraid to go to work.

The New York City medical examiner has officially identified a body found in a Manhattan skyscraper as that of a missing cleaning woman.

Police found the body of Eridania (ehr-ee-DAH'-nee-uh) Rodriguez in a 12th-floor air-conditioning duct on Saturday at a building near the World Trade Center site.

Her identity was confirmed Monday by the medical examiner's spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove.

Eridania Rodriguez was a mother of three, and sister to IFBB pro-bodybuilder Victor Martinez who won the Arnold Classic in 2007 and has repeatedly been first runner up for the Mr. Olympia title. At this time there appears to be no link between her brother's celebrity and the murder of Eridania Rodriguez.

Our condolences to top IFBB Pro Bodybuildiner, Victor Martinez. His sister went missing last week and her body was found over the weekend.

Victor told NY1 news, “She was afraid of work there, there was no cameras in any of the floors, you have guys following her around and exposing themselves to her,” said Victor Martinez, Eridania’s brother. “There were very unsafe working conditions there and that’s why this was supposed to be her last week of work, but unfortunately it turned out another way.”

Based on the manner in which her body was found it is clear that Rodriguez was a victim of foul play and police are now looking for her killer. The New York medical examiner declared the official cause of death to be asphyxiation. Eridania Rodriguez was found with her head bound in duct tape.

The details emerged as police continued their search for the person who killed Eridania Rodriguez, 46, who worked on the janitorial staff of the building at 2 Rector St.

Rodriguez had three children and lived in the Inwood section of Manhattan. She emigrated from the Dominican Republic 27 years ago.

The city medical examiner's office ruled Sunday that Rodriguez had been smothered by duct tape that had been wrapped around her head and face. Chief medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said Rodriguez died from asphyxia due to airway obstruction.