Man in Queens marsh, found naked, taken to hospital

HOWARD BEACH, Queens (WABC) -- A 47-year-old naked man was hospitalized after he was found up to his knees in a marsh at Spring Creek Park, where a Howard Beach jogger was killed in August.

The Queens resident was discovered by a police officer at the command post investigating the death of Karina Vetrano.

A resident called police when they heard voices and yelling from the park area just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the New York City Police Department.

She found the man naked, incoherent and up to his knees in the muddy marsh. He was taken to Jamaica Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.

Police continued to search for additional people in the marsh area, but found none.

The man's girlfriend told detectives they got into a dispute earlier in the day, according to police. The man took an unknown number of pills of the drug Molly and ran from their home.

Detectives will likely take a DNA sample from him as part of the ongoing investigation into Vetrano's death.

He will likely be charged with public lewdness following his release from the hospital.