New video shows Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam alone hours before body found in Hudson River

Kemberly Richardson has the latest on the investigation into the judge's death.

HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- New York City detectives have recovered surveillance video showing Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam walking alone the night before she was found dead in the Hudson River last week.

The NYPD obtained the new video Tuesday night. It shows Abdus-Salaam walking in the direction of the river in her Harlem neighborhood at about 8 p.m. on April 11. Detectives described this video as being important in the case, as they're working to piece together her last movements before she somehow ended up in the water.
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Her body was spotted at 1:45 p.m. the next day after someone saw it wash up on the shore near West 132nd Street.

The next step in the investigation is for detectives to canvas that area Wednesday night to see if anyone remembers seeing the judge at that particular time.

Police initially said no foul play was suspected in the case, but their tone changed Tuesday after the investigation revealed there is no clear indication of suicide or criminality.

Photos: Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam through the years

Court of Appeals judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, left, is sworn in by New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman at the New York Court of Appeals in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, June 20, 2013.AP

Court of Appeals judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam during her swearing-in ceremony at the New York Court of Appeals in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, June 20, 2013.AP

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder left, and Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy, right, applaud after Court of Appeals judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, second from left, is congratulated.AP

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam, left, is congratulated after being confirmed to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals by friend and Albany City Court Judge Rachel Kretser.AP

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam looks on as members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee vote unanimously to advance her nomination to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals.AP

Court of Appeals judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam speaks to family and friends after a swearing-in ceremony at the New York Court of Appeals in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, June 20, 2013.AP

Sheila Abdus-Salaam listens to oral arguments on whether criminal defendants should be allowed to use allegations made in civil rights lawsuits against police witnesses.AP

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, center, listens to oral arguments on whether criminal defendants should be allowed to use allegations made in civil rights lawsuits against police witnesses.AP

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam during her confirmation for the New York State Court of Appeals, in the Senate gallery at the Capitol on Monday, May 6, 2013, in Albany, N.Y.AP

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam, center, receives applause after her confirmation to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals on Monday, May 6, 2013.AP

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"We're looking it at as a suspicious death at this point. We haven't found any clear indications of criminality, but at this point we can't say for sure. We're hoping if anyone could shed any light into the hours before her disappearance, it would help us establish what happened," NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis said.

Abdus-Salaam's husband, The Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs, issued a statement, saying:

"It has been a week since our beloved Sheila's body was discovered in the Hudson River. Since that day, the New York Police Department has conducted a vigorous investigation, but has been unable to determine a conclusive cause of death. A recent statement by the NYPD now calls the circumstances involving the investigation "suspicious." We are truly thankful for their efforts and pray that the facts will ultimately be made known."

He added: "Sheila loved Harlem and its people and lived there for nearly all of her adult life. I now join with the NYPD in asking anyone in the neighborhood to step forward with any information that might help us determine what may have happened during those hours before her death."

Abdus-Salaam, who was 65 years old, was the first African-American woman appointed to New York's highest court - the Court of Appeals.