Neighbors of a 15-year-old lady discovered useless within the East River every week after disappearing into the water are fearful her devoted mom received’t be capable to survive with out her beloved daughter by her aspect.
“Her mom was devastated,” stated Christine Vasquez, 35, a resident within the Higher East Aspect constructing the place the mother and daughter shared an condo, and who is aware of them effectively. “She said that she knows that God’s going to bring her body back.”
“I didn’t know they found her,” Vasquez stated Sunday. “I think that’s closure to the mother.”
Graceline Ilogene, 15, went lacking shortly after 12 p.m. on Might 30 after she had been sitting on the rocks alongside the shoreline of the East River close to the Roosevelt Island Bridge, in line with authorities. A pal known as 911 when the teenager by no means resurfaced after falling into the water.
Rescue efforts became a weeklong restoration mission that ended Saturday after authorities reported they’d discovered Graceline’s physique.
The mom and daughter had been “inseparable,” in line with Vasquez.
“Her mother feels dead without her,” she stated.
Graceline was a “very shy, quiet girl,” Vasquez stated, including, nevertheless, that “she was so helpful,” as soon as serving to Vasquez transfer a sofa.
Rebecca White / New York Day by day Information
A single candle is lit outdoors Graceline Ilogene’s Manhattan condo constructing. (Rebecca White / New York Day by day Information)
Graceline would assist her mother — a vendor who sells gadgets in entrance of the McDonald’s on Second Ave, off E. 96th St. in Manhattan, whose identify has not been launched by authorities — arrange and shut down store, and will usually been seen sitting quietly subsequent to her mom doing homework whereas mother was promoting, locals stated.
Graceline’s mother was filled with questions on her daughter’s disappearance, in line with Vasquez. “What would bring her to the water? Why was she near the rocks?” Vasquez stated the lady’s mother puzzled after they spoke concerning the search.
“She can’t swim,” Vasquez stated of the lady, who was sporting a inexperienced bathing go well with with white flowers when she went lacking.
“It’s such a tragedy,” Vasquez added.
“She always with her mother. Always helping her mother,” Janet Johnson, 59, one other constructing resident and neighbor stated, echoing others’ issues. “I don’t know how her mother gonna make it without her daughter!”
Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information
Divers from the FDNY and the NYPD search the waters of the East River on Might 30. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information)
Johnson was additionally not conscious Sunday that Graceline’s physique had been discovered, however stated she had been praying for her and her mom. She cried loudly and leaned her head towards her door when instructed the physique was recovered. “Oh my God!”
“I heard that she’s missing. I was praying for her,” Johnson stated. “I see her all the time, she and her mother. I was just praying.”
Graceline’s mom couldn’t be reached for remark.
Graceline’s physique was certainly one of three our bodies recovered from the East River the identical day. First responders additionally recovered the our bodies of two unidentified males from the East River on Friday.
In the meantime, NYPD crews are nonetheless trying to find 17-year-old Brandon Pino, who jumped off the Staten Island Ferry on Might 31 after leaving a goodbye observe on Instagram.
Initially Printed: June 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM EDT
