Family, friends hold funeral Queens woman found dead on beach - FOX 35 News Orlando

Family, friends hold funeral Queens woman found dead on beach

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NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -

Family and friends said goodbye Saturday to a young woman believed to be the victim of murder. Her body was discovered last week – two months after she disappeared. 

Two months ago Marisha Cheong vanished under suspicious circumstances from her Queens home.

Last week, her decomposed body was found on a beach in Breezy Point. Saturday morning, as her friends and family attended her funeral in Ozone Park -- police are still investigating and searching for her killer. 

"A traditional Islamic prayer and tearful goodbye for a young woman whose life was taken," said Alah Akbar.  

"It's not fair. She was so young. Why would anyone do that too her?" said Sarah Profeta, a family friend. 

Her loved ones say 24-year-old Marisha Cheong aspired to be a party planner. 

"We all know she's the last person to do deserve something like this." 

Last week, the Long Island University student's body washed ashore in Queens -- her hands were tied and she was only wearing pajamas.           

She'd been missing since December. 

"For two months we were wondering. Don't ever come back. I believe we're going to get justice for her," said Profeta. 

A family searching for justice -- so far no one has been arrested. 

She had been living with her boyfriend, LJ Balkeran. He spoke with Fox 5 News. 

"It's been a nightmare … it's been a nightmare," said Balkeran. 

Though police have questioned him about the case and he was released. Balkeran was not invited to the funeral at the family's request. Marisha's mother, Bibi Ali, believes something just isn't right.  

"I think her boyfriend had something to do with it because they found her with her pajamas on – only he got to know what happened to her," said Ali.  

"You take my daughter away from me – she didn't deserve it, she didn't deserve it." 

Profeta says she had just seen Marisha seven days before she vanished. 

"We've been friends since I was 12. Now I'm 24 and I didn't think that was the last time I would ever see her," said Profeta. 

Marisha Cheong was 24-years-old. Police are offering a $12,000 reward to anyone who can help solve this case.

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