The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing water plant records to see if they hold any clues to the killing of a plant chemist, an investigator said yesterday.
Geetha Angara, whose body was found in one of the massive tanks at the Passaic (N.J.) Valley Water Commission plant in February, monitored the quality of drinking water.
Her death was ruled a murder. Although authorities believe a co-worker is probably the killer, there have been no arrests.
The EPA was contacted by the water commission, said Michael DeMarco, senior assistant Passaic County prosecutor.
"They are just taking a fresh look at all the figures, to see if their eyes can see anything," he said. "They are looking at all the records that are pertinent to water testing."
Commission executive director Joseph A. Bella did not return a message Monday.
EPA spokesman Rich Cahill on Monday said he could not confirm if the agency was involved.
Angara was reported missing in February and her body was discovered about a day later. She had worked in a laboratory at the plant, where her duties included calibrating water clarity sensors.
At some point, Angara was attacked and rendered unconscious, according to authorities. She was alive when she was dumped into a water tank through a 4-foot opening that is usually covered by a 50-pound metal panel, secured by about a dozen screws. Those screws were either broken off or missing. An autopsy listed the cause of death as drowning.
Source: EPA
