Hours after authorities searching for a missing Bridgeport woman found human remains in Stratford, a person of interest in her disappearance shot himself to death, according to police, who continue to investigate on Tuesday.
Marcus Jackson, 36, of Stratford, was found dead in his house Monday evening. Police said a shot rang out when detectives knocked on his door.
Jackson was wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance of 57-year-old Minnie Lincoln, a Bridgeport resident who was last seen leaving a bar with Jackson the night of March 27. No one has seen or heard from her since. Detectives interviewed him once but said he failed to show up for a second interview.
According to a Bridgeport official, Jackson worked at the city's public safety dispatch center. He also owned the building Lincoln was last seen leaving.
Investigators had hoped to talk to him Monday night after uncovering remains near a Stratford industrial site. Police said surveillance footage and witness interviews led them to the marshy area off Watson Boulevard.
Although the Connecticut Post reports the remains belong to Lincoln, Bridgeport police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said investigators are still waiting for a medical examiner to identify them. It's unclear how soon that will happen.
"We are concerned," said Kaempffer. "We came to this location looking for her and we found human remains."
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But Lincoln's family is holding out hope.
"We want her to come home. I mean, things are looking bleak, but we're staying positive and hoping for the best," said her niece, Michelle Blakey. "We're praying, trying to keep it together and be strong."
They have handed out flyers and looked for any trace of her up until the discovery of the remains Monday night.
“We’ve suffered for a week and three days today looking for her," Blakely said. "You know, waiting by the telephone and you know, just keeping each other together and consoling each other.”
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said investigators are determined to piece together what happened.
"This is a horrible episode and our thoughts go out to the communities in Bridgeport and Stratford," Finch said in a statement Monday evening. "Police have worked tirelessly trying to find and bring Minnie home. But, there is information we do not yet know. Detectives are continuing to search for those answers."
