PORTLAND — After receiving a “substantial lead” that led them to a West Concord Street apartment, police Tuesday said they are still investigating the death of a Westbrook woman found last week in a Riverside Street motel parking lot.

The body of Margarita Fisenko Scott, 29, was discovered Jan. 17 in a red 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer parked at Motel 6. After an autopsy by the state medical examiner, police said Scott’s death was a homicide, but did not release the cause of death.

On Tuesday, Lt. Scott Pelletier said investigators examined an apartment at 266 West Concord St., where they believe Scott may have stayed or frequented in December, based on information received from the public.

He said police were looking for evidence that Scott had been at the apartment, two miles from where her body was found. He also said they towed a vehicle from the property. Late Tuesday, police were still on the scene.

“We continue to establish a time-line of the victim’s movements, where she may have been employed, locations where she may have been staying, as well as identifying other people who may have been spending time with her,” Pelletier said.

The first-floor apartment is now vacant and apparently under renovation, but police have talked to the previous residents, who were “very cooperative,” he said. It’s unclear what relationship Scott might have had with the tenants.

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“We are establishing whether they were just mutual friends or what their relationship is, we’re not exactly sure right now,” Pelletier said. “I believe they knew each other, but the extent of that, I’m not really sure.”

Scott and her husband, Cary Scott, were separated at the time of her death, but in regular contact, according to police. The TrailBlazer was registered in Cary Scott’s name, and he and a friend discovered the body on Jan. 17. Police believe the SUV was parked at Motel 6 previously, but that Margarita Scott had not stayed at the motel.

Pelletier said Scott’s husband and family have cooperated with the investigation, and that police have not found any history of domestic violence or criminal activity. Relatives did not initially report Margarita Scott missing, but did so in late December, he said.

A previously released photograph of Scott was provided by the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service, according to Pelletier, but he said he didn’t know why the INS might have had contact with her.

Scott’s family is originally from Kazakhstan, Pelletier said.

Police said anyone with information for investigators should call 874-8533 or 874-8604.

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William Hall can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or whall@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @hallwilliam4.

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A photograph of Margarita Fisenko Scott, provided to Portland police by the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Portland police were on the scene at 266 West Concord St., where homicide victim Margarita Fisenko Scott is believed to have stayed or frequented.

On Tuesday, police released this photograph of the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer in which Scott’s body was found. The SUV is registered to her husband.


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