Prosecutor: Body of missing Lindenwold woman found in Bayonne

The woman was identified as 32-year-old Norelis Mendoza. She was last seen Saturday night and was reported missing the next day.

Matt Trapani and Naomi Yané

May 17, 2023, 8:39 PM

Updated 505 days ago

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The body of a Lindenwold woman who was reported missing Sunday has been found in Bayonne near the Jersey City border, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The woman was identified as 32-year-old Norelis Mendoza. She was last seen Saturday night and was reported missing the next day. Authorities say that her body was found off Route 440 and that her death is considered suspicious.
“Knowing that somebody is missing and at least finding them gives us a little sense of relief and closure,” says Geovanni Molina, Mendoza’s cousin.
Family members say that Mendoza was last seen after having dropped off her 1-year-old daughter at her parents’ apartment on Montgomery Street in Jersey City on Saturday. Molina says that Mendoza’s mother tried contacting her Sunday around midnight but did not get a response. When the family hadn’t heard from her for 24 hours, that’s when they reported her missing.
“We started putting stuff out on social media that Norelis was missing out of downtown Jersey City,” Molina says. “The community got together, not only in Jersey City, but people from all over the country joined in this effort of getting the message out that Norelis was missing.”
Molina says that the family was told that Mendoza was last seen on surveillance video early Sunday morning in downtown Jersey City.
A body, presumed to be Mendoza’s, was found along Route 440 near Avenue C in Bayonne. Her family was called to the scene.
“Family wasn’t able to see the body at the moment. All indications were leaning towards it being Norelis,” says Molina.
Authorities have not released many details about the death. Mendoza’s family says that a person is in custody – but this is not confirmed by police.
Mendoza’s family says that she was a loving person. They said they don’t know of her having any enemies or anyone who would want to hurt her. But there were accounts of abuse by the father of her children.
“There was a history of domestic violence that she was the victim of…and I hope that’s what led police to where they are today,” Molinda says.
Two other women with ties to Jersey City have been found dead recently. They were allegedly killed by their spouses or partners. Temera King was allegedly shot and killed by her husband in January and Luz Hernandez was beaten, strangled, and buried in a shallow grave, allegedly by her estranged husband in March.
Molina says that he has a message to share.
“If there’s any ladies out there, women, men that are being abused on, please seek the necessary help immediately,” he says.
Anyone who might have information about the death or disappearance is urged to contact Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip.