Westchester woman once jailed during custody battle found dead under mysterious circumstances
Friends of Elizabeth Weinstein, 53, say her body was discovered last week inside the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, Connecticut. Police there confirm they are investigating the “untimely death” of a woman at the hotel but have not officially released the victim’s identity.
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12h agoA woman who once made headlines for being jailed without bail during a Westchester County custody case has now been found dead, under what friends are calling mysterious and troubling circumstances.
Friends of Elizabeth Weinstein, 53, say her body was discovered last week inside the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, Connecticut. Police there confirm they are investigating the “untimely death” of a woman at the hotel but have not officially released the victim’s identity.
Weinstein’s friends say her loved ones were notified by police and they are demanding answers.
“I don’t think this was natural causes,” said friend Stacey Sonnelitter. “A lot of people are wondering, was this suicide or murder?”
Weinstein, a mother from Briarcliff Manor, became the focus of controversy in 2022. Prosecutors say she was arrested July 3 in East Hampton, Long Island after violating a restraining order for telling her children that she loved them.
Weinstein was eventually released, but the trauma stayed with her. She stopped pursuing her court battle, according to Sonnelitter, and began documenting her experiences through raw, emotional videos - many of which were shared with News 12.
“That gave her pause,” said Sonnelitter. “She did stop her litigation. She found it futile. She didn’t find the courts helpful for her.”
In one video, Weinstein seemingly expressed concern for her safety.
“I’m alive right now, but I don’t know how much longer I will be,” she said.
Loved ones say Weinstein lived in fear that something might happen to her and that her story reflects the emotional devastation often caused by family court battles.
“What happened to Lizzie happens to many other people,” said friend Frank Hand. “It should have never happened in the first place.”
“I pray she’s in peace and not suffering anymore,” Sonnelitter added.
The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Weinstein’s prior case was dismissed.
Connecticut authorities say the investigation into her death is ongoing.
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