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New York Post
· collected 2026-09-28 · by Steven Vago, Joe Marino, Matt Troutman
Lee Rogers, 63, a homeless artist known for painting birds in Central Park, died after being beaten by Jonathan Robles, who turned himself in to the police Sunday night. Rogers, also referred to as Elise Bainbridge Hill, had been living rough in Central Park and selling her intricate wildlife watercolors there for years before her death. She was previously featured in a documentary called "Begging Naked" and was compared to John James Audubon by The New York Times when they profiled her work in 2012.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 27, 2026, Lee Rogers, a 63-year-old homeless artist known for her intricate wildlife watercolors and referred to as Francis Lee Rogers or Elise Bainbridge Hill, was found dead in Central Park near East Drive and East 74th Street. She died from blunt force trauma after being beaten over 20 times with a stick by Jonathan Robles, 36, who turned himself into authorities later that day. Rogers had been living rough in the park for years and was beloved by birdwatchers who often bought her artwork there. Police found her body covered in dirt and barefoot within a gazebo near the boathouse; the stick used to bludgeon her was also discovered nearby, broken and blood-stained. The incident marks Central Park's first murder in five years and shocked the tight-knit community of regular parkgoers and homeless residents who knew Rogers well.
Written for “Central Park Murder Case” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
A beloved homeless artist famed for painting the birds of Central Park was the woman found viciously murdered in a gazebo near the park’s boathouse, The Post has learned.
asserted
Post → fame → boathouse
Lee Rogers, 63, who buoyantly peddled intricate wildlife watercolors during her years of sleeping rough in the wooded Manhattan haven, died after being bludgeoned by a stick-wielding madman Sunday, law-enforcement sources said.
asserted
sources → peddle → madman
“She was like the Grandma Moses of Central Park,” said Robert DeCandido, a nature walk guide, referring to the 1950s American folk painter.
asserted
DeCandido → say → painter
“When she did the bird feeders, the birders loved her.
asserted
birders → do → her
They would buy her artwork in the park,” DeCandido, who goes by “Birding Bob,” told The Post on Monday.
asserted
who → buy → Monday
The discovery of a body in the gazebo near 74th Street and East Drive quickly prompted rumors among Central Park birdwatchers – and homeless people who frequent the green space – that it was Rogers.
asserted
it → prompt → space
The suspect – Jonathan Robles, 36 – turned himself in to authorities late Sunday, police said.
asserted
police → turn → authorities
Sources said Rogers and Robles got into some type of argument that escalated into violence, although the details were unclear.
uncertain
details → say → violence
Rogers referred to herself as Francis Lee Rogers on her website and Facebook.
asserted
Rogers → refer → website
Sources said she was also known as Elise Bainbridge Hill – a name that sheds some light on her murky past.
asserted
that → say → past
Elise Bainbridge Hill, or Rogers, was the subject of a 2007 documentary “Begging Naked” that detailed how she ran away to New York City as a teen.
asserted
she → beg → teen
The youthful Rogers fell into prostitution and drug addiction, eventually working as a stripper while she honed her skills in art, according to the documentary.
uncertain
she → fall → documentary
Rogers often cultivated an air of mystery as she became a fixture in the park, trodding out with a sketchbook and a twisted walking stick.
When the New York Times profiled Rogers – and compared her to naturalist artist John James Audubon – in 2012, Rogers politely declined to give her age or details about her life.
asserted
Rogers → cultivate → life
Birders and parkgoers knew Rogers through her paintings, which she sold as she camped out at churches near the park.
asserted
she → know → park
“For many years I was homeless,” she wrote on her website.
asserted
she → write → website
“I worked on my paintings at the Central Park boathouse.”
asserted
I → work → boathouse
Robles was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan court on murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges Monday.
asserted
Robles → await → charges
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