Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announce that at approximately 8:23 a.m., police received a call from a concerned citizen regarding an unattended car in the parking lot of a garden apartment complex located at 238 Marion Street in Paterson.
Authorities say when officers arrived a few minutes later, they discovered a charcoal gray Nissan Altima which is registered to 24-year-old Shanaya Coley of Paterson, who was reported missing along with her vehicle on Decemebr 5, 2017.
Upon approaching the vehicle, officers observed what appeared to be a body in the backseat of the vehicle.
“At this time, the medical examiner has been notified and a positive identification of the body has not been confirmed” authorities said.
The investigation is active and ongoing and is being conducted by the Paterson Police Department in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office.
Authorities would not immediately state the condition of Ms. Coley’s body when they found her or if she was decomposed.
More information will be released once it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.