Police are searching for criminals who killed a 74-year-old New York woman and left her bound, bound and gagged in her apartment

The NYPD is Search for the person or persons behind a horrific crime that saw a 74-year-old woman die under mysterious circumstances at her home this week.

The victim, identified by police as Maria Hernandez, was found by her sister, Maria Terrero, at her Upper West Side apartment on Wednesday. According to New York Post, Terrero became concerned when Hernandez’s daughter reported that she hadn’t heard from Hernandez in a while and went to check on her. When she got there, she found the unimaginable: her sister was tied to a chair and gagged, apparently unconscious. Terrero called 911, but Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Right now, NYPD investigators seem to have more questions than answers. Police describe the home as “looted” but could not identify any items that were actually stolen from the home. And while they cited burglary as a possible motive for the crime, they found no evidence of forced entry or other signs of trauma from Hernandez.

On Friday, the coroner determined that suffocation was the cause of Hernandez’s death. Neighbors were also confused as to who might have targeted Hernandez, according to the WCBS. “Absolutely the last person I would have expected something like this to happen to her,” said neighbor Patrick Jolicoeur. “I am shocked. The whole of last night my wife and I just shook our heads it was amazing. Couldn’t believe that. I’ve lived here for over 30 years so it happened to her, it could happen to any of us.”

NYPD investigators were seen entering and exiting Hernandez’s apartment on Friday, apparently looking for leads.

The NY Post has reported that police have indicated that someone used a hammer and crowbar to get into the building’s basement to steal the building’s CCTV system, and investigators believe the person who did so that could be linked to the murder of Hernandez.

The building’s superintendent told the Post: “I have a lot of elderly ladies in this building. I try to take care of her. Take care of them,” he said. “I know people target older people, guys in the building, to always take care of the older people in here.”

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).