The Ghastly Discovery of This Black Woman’s Body is Being Dubbed the ‘Long Island Suitcase Murder’

Just weeks after Seikeya Jones was reported missing by her family this summer, police made a horrifying discovery: her remains discarded inside luggage. Now, authorities believe they have the suspect behind her alleged murder.

The 31-year-old woman was last seen Aug. 16 near Fifth Avenue in Huntington Station, authorities said. Her family told ABC 7 New York she was reported as a missing person with the description of a 5’1 tall woman with brown eyes, brown hair and weighing approximately 131 pounds. Jones’ sister told reporters it was hard to get in contact with her due to her mental issues. Police also said at the time, Jones was unhoused.

With weeks without any leads to her whereabouts, Suffolk County Police said they finally received a tip last week. The night of Sept. 1, a witness reported hearing a woman scream, per WABC-TV. Two days later, police said they received a report of “suspicious activity” along Nassau Road. Officers responded to the report, arriving at an apartment building where they found an abandoned suitcase wrapped with a bungee cord.

Inside was Jones’ body curled into fetal position. Police said she was bound with black cords around her wrists and ankles. Investigators say Jones was seen walking the hallways of the apartment building on surveillance footage.

As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Jones’ mother tells ABC7 she didn’t learn of her daughter’s fate until after it was published as the latest crime story.

“I’m looking and I’m looking and I can’t find her and I come back from vacation and I see on the news that my daughter is in a suitcase,” said Yolanda Terrell, Jones’ mother.

Sunday, police arrested 31-year-old Ronald Schroeder at Penn Station on an outstanding warrant. At the time of his arrest, police said they discovered date rape drugs and other illegal substances on him. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office is still determining Jones’ official cause of death, the report says.

For now, Schroeder is being held at the county jail on charges of concealment of a human corpse. Though, he may face additional charges.

Jones leaves behind a 4-year-old son, the report says. She was just weeks away from her 32nd birthday.