FORMER COP SUSPECTED IN SLOATSBURG MURDER/SUICIDE

BY CAROL MCILMURRAY

SLOATSBURG- Shortly after 9:50 a.m. Wednesday morning a final gunshot rang out at 3 Adams Court, the residence of William Groesbeck, a former cop who apparently committed a murder/suicide.

Police were already on the scene and the Ramapo Emergency Team entered the home to find a deceased couple both inflicted with gunshot wounds. According to Ramapo Police Capt. Thomas Cokely the murder victim appears to be Patricia Nigro, 64, and the suicide victim appears to be her husband, retired Ramsey police officer, William Groesbeck, 69.

A group of concerned family members from the Nigro and Groesbeck families had gathered outside the home. According to Ramapo Capt. Cokely, a concerned friend, who was also outside the home in his car, called Ramapo PD because he believe William Groesbeck was in “distress and in need of police assistance.”

Tuxedo Police, New York State Park Police and the Rockland County Sheriff Dept. joined the responding Ramapo officers to keep the family calm as the investigation began in the home.

Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence stated at a press conference that there had been prior contact at the home, for non-physical harassment, in June. St. Lawrence also stated that Nigro was Groesbeck’s second wife, and he believed Groesbeck’s children had gone through the Suffern school system.

Center for Safety & Change Executive Director Elizabeth Santiago released a public statement, “We must acknowledge that this is a terrible loss; this tragedy leaves Patricia’s family and friends with a void in their hearts and lives.” Santiago continued, “While we do not know the particulars of this case, we do know that intimate partner homicide and domestic violence in general are problems that our community must continue to work on together.”

Rockland County Medical Emergency Team has yet to make a final determination on cause of death and the Ramapo Detectives Team is still investigating the event.

According to Capt. Cokely a handgun was recovered inside the home.

Supervisor St. Lawrence stated, “We send our prayers and our concerns to the Groesbeck family and the Nigro family…this is a tragic incident.”