State Police trying to crack 1996 cold case of body found near Northern State Parkway

State Police say Wilbert Corona died in 1996 in Suffolk County, but the details surrounding his death have remained a mystery.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2020, 12:02 AM

Updated 1,529 days ago

Share:

State troopers are asking for help trying to solve a mystery into a lifeless body that was discovered on the side of the Northern State Parkway nearly 25 years ago.
State Police say Wilbert Corona died in 1996 in Suffolk County, but the details surrounding his death have remained a mystery. State Police Senior Investigator Edward Franke says the 25-year-old from Elmhurst, Queens was discovered in the woods on the westbound side of the parkway, about a half-mile west of Veterans Memorial Highway.
Corona was last seen right before Christmas in 1995, and was found in January 1996. Troopers says his cousin Darvin Beltre was on of the last people to have seen Corona alive. They think Beltre is currently in the Dominican Republic.
Franke says investigators never stopped trying to figure out what happened to Corona.
"We always want to follow a case to the end," says Franke. "We want to find out the reason for his death and find out what happened, so we can do the job to the end."
Franke is now asking for the public's help into who might've seen Corona last, who might have known him and people he might have come into contact with back then.
State Police ask anyone with information regarding Corona's death to call State Police's Troop L at 631-756-3300.
 


More from News 12
2:32
Summer Safety Initiative: Overnight youth curfew in effect for the city of Newark

Summer Safety Initiative: Overnight youth curfew in effect for the city of Newark

1:59
Mostly cloudy Saturday in New Jersey; widespread showers on Sunday

Mostly cloudy Saturday in New Jersey; widespread showers on Sunday

1:46
Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

0:42
NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

0:28
Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

0:27
Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

0:42
Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

0:30
Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

0:27
Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

2:02
Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

1:04
Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

0:49
Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

0:39
Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

0:28
GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

0:40
Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

3:21
Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

1:12
Several house fires break out Thursday in New Jersey; 1 man dead

Several house fires break out Thursday in New Jersey; 1 man dead

0:18
South Brunswick police searching for missing man last seen on Route 1

South Brunswick police searching for missing man last seen on Route 1

0:23
South Orange woman indicted for stealing over $1 million federal benefits intended for dead aunt

South Orange woman indicted for stealing over $1 million federal benefits intended for dead aunt

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning