Feb 28, 2008 5:41 pm US/Eastern
Family: Body Found In Trunk Is Missing Lynn Woman
MALDEN, Mass. (WBZ) ―
Family members say a woman's body found in the trunk of a car on Faulkner Street in Malden Wednesday afternoon is that of a missing Lynn woman.
Norma Dorce Gilles, 37, hadn't been seen or heard from since she went out for coffee on Feb. 13.
Gilles owned the Scruple hair salon on Salem Street in Malden, just a few blocks from where her body was found inside the trunk of her car.
Gilles' brother, Jules Dorce, said police told him they are "99 percent sure" that the body is his sister's.
"They advised me that they found Norma's car with a body inside," said Dorce.
Investigators have not officially released the name of the female victim, pending official family identification and an autopsy.
Family members laid flowers and lit candles in front of Gilles' hair salon Thursday. Her missing poster is still hanging in the window there.
"I'm dead (inside) right now, to tell you the truth," said Dorce.
Dorce said he last spoke with his sister two weeks ago.
"I called her on Valentine's Day and she didn't answer. That's when I went down to her beauty salon on the 15th, Friday," said Dorce. "I didn't see her, but I asked her boyfriend, 'Where's Norma?' He said he didn't know, but she probably went out to go somewhere. She didn't tell him where she went."
The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said investigators were treating it as a homicide, and there have been no arrests. However they do have a "person of interest" in custody.
Jackie Foley, who owns a business near Gilles' salon, says she saw Norma almost every day, and couldn't believe it.
"I was shocked, absolutely shocked. I couldn't believe right next door just about; right down the street somebody was murdered," said Foley.
"A very, very nice woman. She was struggling, just like me, small business; you know trying to keep her doors open. I don't know what happened," said Foley.
Upon learning of her death, all Norma's former neighbors could talk about Thursday was the problems she had with her ex-boyfriend.
Lesly Cheremont owns the record store next door to Norma's salon, and WBZ has learned that Norma took out a restraining order against him last year. A judge has sealed the restraining order, which means details won't be released to the public.
"I don't know if she's still with him or not you know," said Joe Vittorioso, who owns a business near by. "I know she was trying to break it off with him."
Norma's landlord, Anthony Cammarta, says he knew the couple had been having difficulties, but never expected anything like this.
"I know they were having some problems, but nothing to this extent," he said.
Police did tell WBZ they have been to the two businesses on several occasions to deal with that situation.
Jules Dorce, also said his sister was planning on moving to Miami soon to get away from an "abusive relationship."
Several people believed to have information regarding her death have been already interviewed by investigators.
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