Pleasantville woman found dead in home identified

PLEASANTVILLE (WABC) -- A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information that directly leads to the arrest and conviction whoever is responsible for the death of a 76-year-old Pleasantville woman is being investigated as a homicide.

New York State Crime Stoppers, Westchester County Police and Pleasantville Police, are offering the reward.

Linda Falkoff (pictured below) was found dead inside her home on Grandview Avenue on Thursday, according to Pleasantville Police Department.

The victim was discovered after a mail carrier thought it was suspicious that the woman's mail and newspapers had been piling up at the building and called police. Detectives were still on the scene Saturday evening, and say they will be for the next several days. They say there is so much clutter inside the house that it is making it very hard for them to do their job.

Falkoff was a recent widow and had no children. She was an accomplished academic, had a PHD, was a lawyer and had worked for the UN. However, police say they are having a hard time tracking down anyone who knew her in recent years.

"They kept to themselves, they were quiet," said neighbor Steve Starr, "never head them, saw them or spoke to them."

Police say they haven't yet determined if anything was stolen from the house. They say it is hard for them to tell because they had so much stuff that it blocked rooms, stairways and windows.

Police may not have a hard time tracking down who Falkoff knew for legal reasons. It turns out she sued the MTA a few years ago after a railroad crossing sign came down on her as she was walking. Falkoff also sued the village of Pleasantville in the early 90's after she fell on a defective sidewalk.