By:Nick Buglione
Gabriel Zabala, who had been illegally renting out parts of his home at 2389 Post St. to five tenants, made the grisly discovery when he went into his basement, according to Detective Sgt. Richard Laursen.
"The tenant that was renting the room had not been seen for a few weeks, and was behind on his rent," Laursen said.
The woman's body was found under a bed, covered with a blanket. Zabala called police, who arrived around 5:20 p.m. and later determined that she had been murdered.
Police would not disclose where or how many times the woman was stabbed. They are also not disclosing the name of the tenant, who is being sought for questioning.
The white or Hispanic woman had light skin and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a medium to heavy build. She also had red, shoulder-length hair that was possibly colored, and was in her late 20s to early 30s.
Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Homicide Squad at (516) 573-7788 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.
Zabala, who lives with his family on the main floor of his home, had been illegally renting the upstairs to two tenants and the basement to three others.
Those who have lived in the community for years say they have noticed a marked increase in illegal rentals, including homeowners who fix up rooms to rent out for extra income and absentee landlords who buy entire houses and parcel them out to as many as four families at times.
East Meadow residents have cited myriad problems with illegal rentals, saying they drain tax-driven services in the neighborhood, destroy the quality of life and drive down property values.
