Central Park 'Bird Lady' Murdered; Suspect Claims Argument Led to Attack

A woman whose life echoed that of the "Pigeon Lady" character from the movie Home Alone 2 was found murdered in Central Park, and the suspect accused of the killing claims the violence stemmed from an argument.

Francis Lee Rogers, 63, also known as Elise Bainbridge Hill, was discovered on Sunday morning near a gazebo in the New York City park. Police sources described her as barefoot, covered in dirt, and with her head shaved, revealing fatal injuries. She was found next to a bloodied stick.

Rogers, who was homeless, was a familiar figure among the park's birdwatchers. Her life, which included years painting watercolors of park wildlife while living rough, drew comparisons to the reclusive character portrayed by Brenda Fricker in the 1992 film. Her life was also chronicled in the 2007 documentary "Begging Naked."

Hours after Rogers was found, Jonathan Robles, 36, a fellow homeless individual, turned himself in to authorities and allegedly confessed to the crime. According to court documents cited by NBC New York, Robles told police that he and Rogers got into an argument, during which she struck him with a stick. He stated he took the stick from her and hit her more than 20 times until she was no longer able to hit him.

Police are investigating the possibility that Robles and Rogers had prior hostile encounters. Robles, whose last known address was a transitional housing facility, was charged with second-degree murder. A judge ordered him held without bail and mandated a psychiatric evaluation.

Prosecutors have secured a grand jury indictment against Robles, who appeared virtually for his arraignment from a hospital where he was being treated for a hand injury. His attorney stated that Robles suffers from a serious mental illness, which is expected to be a central issue in the case.

The killing has deeply affected those who knew Rogers in Central Park, including birders and artists. Nature walk guide Robert DeCandido described her as "like the Grandma Moses of Central Park," noting her popularity among birders who purchased her artwork.

Rogers' life was marked by significant turbulence before she became a fixture in Central Park. As a teenager, she ran away from home, eventually becoming involved in prostitution and drug addiction in New York City before working as a stripper and developing her artistic talents. Her paintings, often inspired by her surroundings, increasingly focused on the natural world as she became homeless and spent her time in and around the park.

Robles is due back in court on October 13.