A Long Island grandmother and business owner who was nearing retirement was killed this week in what authorities and reports described as a targeted, violent attack inside her home.
Rachel Frislid, 62, was discovered unconscious by a relative at her Sayville residence at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department and CBS New York.
Suffolk homicide detectives said Frislid had been a “victim of violence,” though officials did not release specific details about the injuries she suffered during the assault.
“A family member found her, and it was a short time after the assault occurred,” Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said, according to WABC.
Neighbors remembered Frislid, a longtime Pearl Court resident, as a devoted mother and respected local businesswoman with a “heart of gold.”
“A heart of gold. Nicest woman you could have ever met. I don’t understand it,” Eileen Tyznar, president emeritus of the Sayville Chamber of Commerce, told CBS.
“She has a beautiful, beautiful family that she always talks about. Her son and her daughter,” Tyznar added. “And I hope they catch this person.”
After her husband died several years ago, Frislid took over the family company, Academy Tent Rentals of Bohemia. Her LinkedIn profile also lists her as a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned an associate’s degree in advertising.
Frislid was just with leaders of the St James Chamber of Commerce, who said the bubbly woman was helping to plan their street fair, the outlet reported.
She also worked for the Board of Cooperative Education Services in Suffolk County and volunteered at Deepwells Farm and local historical societies.
Frislid had tragically hoped to retire soon and move to Tennessee, where she could be closer to her daughter and grandchild, the outlet said.
“Now to hear that she’s dead, I’m just, I don’t know what to say, I’m heartbroken,” workplace tenant neighbor Peter Woram said. “Hopefully they find this animal.”
Police have launched a murder probe and stressed that there is no danger to the public, and that the attack appeared targeted.
“We are not ready to discuss any kind of suspects in this yet, but I will say that the residents of this town, Sayville, really have nothing to fear regarding this attack,” Catalina said.
“We do not think this was a random attack. We do believe this was a targeted attack.”
Anyone with information on Frislid’s murder is urged to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.
