St. Clair Shores

Body of elderly woman found frozen

By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

Police: Circumstances surrounding

woman’s death are ‘unusual’

ST. CLAIR SHORES — St. Clair Shores police are investigating the death of a woman whose frozen body was found in the lawn of her former home Nov. 22.

Detective Sgt. Todd Woodcox said 74-year-old Jacqueline Moceri’s body was discovered by a family member just after midnight on the side lawn of a home on Francis.

He said details into the possible cause of death are not being released, as investigators are unsure themselves.

“I’m not willing to say if she was the victim (of a crime), but the circumstances surrounding her death are unusual,” Woodcox said. “We’re exploring every possibility.”

Moceri was last seen leaving Colleen’s Irish Pub on Harper and Masonic late on Nov. 20 or early on Nov. 21. She was not reported missing.

“We do not know if she was (in the lawn) the entire time she was missing,” Woodcox said.

Woodcox said Moceri’s body was found outside a home that she had moved out of only a month prior. The detective said Moceri was living at a different home in St. Clair Shores at the time of her death.

Woodcox said he is unable to say whether or not Moceri was assaulted at the home or if she was possibly killed and left at the residence. It is also unknown if Moceri passed out in front of the home and died from exposure. Moceri’s body was in a frozen state due to the low air temperature, which Woodcox said was around 18 degrees when officers arrived at the scene.

He said results of the autopsy and toxicology tests from the Macomb County Medical Examiners office will reveal more about the mysterious death. Undisclosed evidence at the scene was sent to the Sterling Heights Crime Lab.

“The evidence has been sent to the crime lab, and we’re now waiting for the results,” Woodcox said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Moceri had her purse and identification bearing the address of the home where her body was found, Woodcox said.

Woodcox said it does not appear that Moceri suffered from any sort of debilitating mental disease. She did not have a car.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1039.