Neighbors ID St. Paul woman whose death is considered suspicious

A 79-year-old woman found dead in the basement of a home on St. Paul's East Side was identified by neighbors Thursday as police continued to investigate her death as suspicious.

Officers called to the residence in the 2300 block of Nokomis Avenue at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday found the "unresponsive" woman, police said. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, which is near Beaver Lake, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Neighbors identified the woman as Myong Gossel. Pat and Dick Kroening, who live next door, said friends checked on Gossel Wednesday after they hadn't heard from her for a while and found her dead in the basement. The friends said the home appeared to have been burglarized, the Kroenings said.

Gossel was "wonderful," Pat Kroening said. "She's never had an enemy that I know of."

Gossel lived in the home alone after her husband, Truman Gossel, whom she met while he was in the military, died several years ago, the Kroenings said.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster said anyone with information is asked to call police at 651-266-5650.

The Ramsey County medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.