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Woman beaten to death in Central Park was artist featured in documentary about her tragic life
New York Daily News • • nation
Key Points:
- Elise Bainbridge Hill, a homeless woman and talented artist featured in the documentary "Begging Naked," was found brutally beaten to death in Central Park near the boathouse on Sunday.
- Hill's life was marked by struggles with drugs, prostitution, mental illness, and homelessness, yet she continued to create art and was a cherished member of the Central Park birding community.
- Filmmaker Karen Gehres, who documented Hill's life and was her longtime friend, described her as intelligent, fiercely independent, and deeply affected by mental health issues that led to her isolation.
- Jonathan Robles, 36, who resides in a transitional housing facility, was charged with Hill's murder and weapons possession after turning himself in to police; the weapon used has not been recovered.
- Hill, also known as Francis Lee Rogers, was remembered by friends for her artistic talent, humor, and connection to nature, despite her tragic and tumultuous life.
