Gothamist
Letitia James

Top Aide to Letitia James Found Hanged in Crown Heights

A top aide to Letitia James, the city’s newly elected Public Advocate, was found hanging in his Crown Heights home on Thursday.

57-year-old Alfred Chiodo, who worked as James’s urban-affairs director during her time as a councilwoman, was found by police after co-workers noticed he’d missed several days of work, the Post reports. It’s unclear whether Chiodo’s death was a suicide.

Neighbors reported that Chiodo lived alone with his cat, and that visitors were rare. “It’s just him and his cat,” David Bell told the tabloid. “He was very quiet and kept to himself.”

James tweeted about Chiodo’s death Friday morning, thanking everyone for their condolences for her and her staff’s “heartbreaking loss.”

“Alfred was passionate about the work he did,” she wrote. “He looked at our city with rose-colored glasses. He was a kind man, and a generous spirit, and he will be deeply missed.”

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