A beloved grandmother and business owner on the brink of retirement was found murdered in a targeted, violent attack inside her Long Island home this week, according to authorities and reports.
Rachel Frislid, 62, was found unconscious by a family member inside her Sayville home around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department and CBS New York.
Homicide detectives said Frislid was a “victim of violence,” but did not elaborate on the type of injuries she suffered in the assault.
“A family member found her, and it was a short time after the assault occurred,” Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said, per WABC.
Frislid was a cherished businesswoman and mother with a “heart of gold” who was a longtime resident on Pearl Court, according to heartbroken neighbors.
“A heart of gold. Nicest woman you could have ever met. I don’t understand it,” said Eileen Tyznar, president emeritus of the Sayville Chamber of Commerce, told CBS.
“She has a beautiful, beautiful family that she always talks about. Her son and her daughter,” Tyznar said. “And I hope they catch this person.”
When her husband died several years ago, she took charge of the family business, Academy Tent Rentals of Bohemia. Her LinkedIn profile also shows she was a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology, with an associate’s degree in advertising.
Frislid was just with leaders of the St James Chamber of Commerce, who said the bubbly woman was helping to plan their street fair, the outlet reported.
She also worked for the Board of Cooperative Education Services in Suffolk County and volunteered at Deepwells Farm and local historical societies.
Frislid had tragically hoped to retire soon and move to Tennessee, where she could be closer to her daughter and grandchild, the outlet said.
“Now to hear that she’s dead, I’m just, I don’t know what to say, I’m heartbroken,” workplace tenant neighbor Peter Woram said. “Hopefully they find this animal.”
Police have launched a murder probe and stressed that there is no danger to the public, and that the attack appeared targeted.
“We are not ready to discuss any kind of suspects in this yet, but I will say that the residents of this town, Sayville, really have nothing to fear regarding this attack,” Catalina said.
“We do not think this was a random attack. We do believe this was a targeted attack.”
Anyone with information on Frislid’s murder is urged to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.
