Decomposed body found on Coney Island rooftop may be woman who disappeared in August

CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. (WABC) -- A badly decomposed body was found on the roof of a Coney Island, Brooklyn, apartment building Thursday morning.

Family members cried and embraced outside the building as investigators removed the remains and they waited to find out if it is 73-year-old Crucita Alvarado, who disappeared nearly a month ago.

Alvarado disappeared in August and has dementia. She was last seen walking near the building at West 31st Street and Mermaid Avenue where she lives. Police said they searched the entire building, including the roof, while looking for Alvarado but didn't find her.

The body was found on the roof of the building just after 10 a.m. Thursday and was so badly decomposed that police were unable to determine the gender. The body was clad in a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and crocs.

"For a body to be up there for 30-something days -- how could this happen under a building that has cameras everywhere?" said family friend Jonna Graham.

The medical examiner will determine cause of death. An elevator repairman found the body.