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QUEENS WEEKLY, JUNE 23, 2019
Rego Park man guilty
of fatally beating mom
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER
FRESH MEADOWS TIMES
JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
LAURELTON TIMES ■ LITTLE NECK LEDGER
QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER
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BY JENNA BAGCAL
An infant who was
allegedly found dead in
Bayside’s Crocheron Park
on Tuesday morning
turned out to be a lifelike
doll set up by a sick
prankster, according
to police.
Multiple sources
confirmed that what was
initially believed to be
the body of a deceased
infant was actually a
doll “made to look like it
was decomposing.”
At around 8:15
a.m. on June 18,
officers from the 111th
Precinct responded to
a call about a baby who
was unconscious and
unresponsive in the
vicinity of 215th Street and
35th Avenue. A runner had
reportedly stumbled upon
the baby’s body around
7:40 a.m.
The report triggered
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a massive response by
the NYPD and the Fire
Department. Nearby
residents were alarmed
by the response. People
in Bayside who heard
about what had allegedly
occurred took to social
media to express their
shock and condolences.
But then the truth
was uncovered.
Reports later confirmed
that the “baby” was
actually a doll that was
colored pink and blue,
which police described as
“very realistic.” The fake
baby was so realistic that
it initially fooled NYPD
and EMS personnel who
responded to the scene.
It’s not clear, at this
point in the investigation,
who planted the doll in
the park and called in
the “dead baby” report,
nor did police know of a
possible motive for the sick
ruse. They are currently
searching for cameras in
the park to see if they can
catch the culprit.
Before investigators
determined it was all a
prank, residents living
near the scene expressed
shock by the initial report
that a baby’s body had been
found in the park.
“I was walking my dog
here 1:00 in the morning
and I didn’t see anything,”
said Jackie Matuk, 51.
“This park is filled with
kids all the time…people
walking their dogs. It’s a
family park. Whatever the
circumstances, it must’ve
been super painful for the
person who left the baby
probably was suffering.”
“It’s upsetting and
especially right by a
school, I’m worried about
what the kids will hear,”
she added.
Carlotta Mohamed
and Robert Pozarycki
contributed to this report.
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
A Rego Park man
admitted to bludgeoning
his mother to death
and dumping her body
in the lake at Flushing
Meadows Corona Park
back in 2016, prosecutors
announced on June 18.
Roman Gorbunova,
24, pleaded guilty to firstdegree
manslaughter on
June 17. He is due to return
to court on July 9, where a
judge indicated he would
sentence Gorbunova to an
indeterminate term of 24
years in prison.
“This defendant has
admitted to one of the
most unthinkable crimes
— killing the woman who
gave him life,” said acting
District Attorney John
M. Ryan. “This was a
heinous act and instead of
taking responsibility for
his actions, the defendant
tried to cover up what he
did by getting rid of his
mother’s dead body and
dumping her in a lake
in a nearby park. The
defendant will now spend
many years behind bars
for his actions.”
According to charges,
on Sept. 27, 2016,
Gorbunova got into an
argument with his mother,
58-year-old Lyubov
Gorbunova. Following
the argument, Gorbunova
fatally wounded his
mother by striking her
in the head with a plate
and numerous times
with a blunt instrument,
ultimately leading to
her death.
Gorbunova then stuffed
his mother’s remains into
a body bag and ordered
a car service, who took
him to Flushing Meadows
Corona Park. He dumped
his mother’s body into
the lake.
The mother was
reported missing one
week later on Oct. 4,
2016. Her body was
discovered on Oct. 8, and
Gorbunova was arrested
shortly afterward.
Police officers at the scene near Crocheron Park in Bayside where an infant was found dead
on June 18. Photos: Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
Roman Gorbunov faces 24 years in prison for beating his mother to death and dumping her
body in a lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Photo by Mari Estrella/ RHS NEWS
‘Dead baby’ hoax shocks
residents across Bayside
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