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Woman beaten to death in Central Park ID'd as beloved homeless artist famed for painting birds
New York Post • • nation
Key Points:
- Lee Rogers, a beloved homeless artist known for painting Central Park birds, was found brutally murdered in a gazebo near the park’s boathouse; she was bludgeoned with a stick on Sunday.
- The suspect, Jonathan Robles, 36, who was also homeless and known to Rogers, turned himself in and faces charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
- Rogers, also known as Elise Bainbridge Hill, was the subject of the 2007 documentary "Begging Naked," which chronicled her struggles with homelessness, addiction, mental illness, and her artistic talent.
- Rogers was a well-known figure among Central Park birdwatchers and homeless communities, admired for her intricate wildlife watercolors and deep knowledge of animal behavior despite her reclusive later years.
- Friends and acquaintances described Rogers as kind but battling paranoia and mental health issues, with her health and social engagement declining over the past several years before her tragic death.
