Skeletal remains found in a wooded area of Queens on Monday have been identified as 69 year old Richard Albright, who went missing back in 2021.
Albright was last seen in Jackson Heights, New York on October 14, 2021. He was last seen leaving his residence near Junction Boulevard and 34th Avenue.
His remains were found in a a wooded area near 134-01 20th Ave. in College Point just before 4 pm Monday, according to the NYPD.
Richard’s wife believes foul play may have been involved, since his remains were found in a densely wooded area and Richard had a double knee replacement. She also learned the cash he had on him was missing.
“The matter is under investigation, including work by our forensic anthropologists to make an identification,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement.
The Disappearance of Richard Albright
Richard Albright grew up in South Africa, and was raised by Southern Baptist missionary parents. He attended college in Kentucky, where he received a journalism degree followed by another degree in nursing.
He met his wife Cathy while working as a business editor at the “Armarillo Globe” newspaper in Texas. After getting married, the pair moved from Texas to New York where Richard got a nursing job at the Hospital For Special Surgery where he worked for 16 years.
Richard and his wife lived together near Junction Boulevard and 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, New York.
At the time of his disappearance he was taking blood thinners for three previous open heart surgeries, and antibiotics following two knee replacements.
Disappearance
On October 14, 2021, Richard “Max” Albright was last seen leaving his home near Junction Boulevard and 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, New York.
Surveillance footage shows him leaving the building for a walk at 11:18 am, then making a left turn towards Northern Boulevard.
He was wearing slippers at the time because his regular shoes had been hurting him, and it appears that he was walking with a slight limp.
Richard never returned home and hasn’t been heard from since.
Investigation
Richard left his required daily medication behind at home.
A text from Richard’s wife was received at 1:30pm on the day he disappeared, though his cell phone continued to go straight to voice mail.
After his disappearance, his wife Cathy hired a private investigator who learned Richard took a bus on the day he disappeared, and later bought a 30 day Metro Card. His debit and credit cards have not been used since.
A search of Richard’s computer revealed that there was a museum in Flushing he was interested in visiting, but no further clues as to his possible whereabouts have been found.
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