Mystery surrounds the death of a Cuenca woman in New York

The body of a 40-year-old woman found hanging from a tree near her Long Island, New York home has left forensics experts trying to determine if her death was a murder or suicide.

Cuenca native Lilia Aucapina

Lilia Aucapina, a native of Cuenca, had been missing since October 10. A mother of two, Aucapina is estranged from her husband, who was arrested and is being questioned by police.

In addition to murder, police are are also considering the possibility of suicide. An attorney for Carlos Aucapina, 50, the estranged husband, claims that Aucapina texted a note to her 21-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter, “Remember that Mommy always loves you.”

The children dispute the suicide possibility, however, saying their mother was happy and showed no signs of depression.

Aucapina’s disappearance had led to a massive appeal from her family, who distributed flyers and repeatedly appealed for help in finding her. She was last seen walking on Montauk Highway in Wainscott on the morning of October 10 after an argument with her husband and brother in a parking lot.

According to police reports, the couple had fought after he claimed that she was seen with another man.

Aucapina was arrested shortly after she was reported missing and charged with violating his wife’s order of protection and questioned about her disappearance.