Woman beaten to death in Central Park was artist featured in documentary about her tragic life

Rebecca White, Roni Jacobson, Rocco Parascandola and Leonard Greene, New York Daily News on Sep 28, 2026

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NEW YORK — A homeless woman savagely beaten to death with a stick in Central Park was once the sad subject of an eye-opening documentary about a gifted artist brought low by a tragic cycle of drugs, prostitution and mental illness.

Nearly two decades before her body was found in a gazebo not far from the Central Park’s popular boathouse Sunday, Elise Bainbridge Hill, 63, was the focus of a sobering documentary about how life’s twists and turns can shape a person’s existence.

In the documentary, “Begging Naked,” which was filmed after she asked a friend to record portions of her life, Hill explains that she ran away as a teen to New York to escape an abusive father only to fall into prostitution and addiction.

In rehab, she says in the film, she learned to paint, sculpt, make dolls and design jewelry. The film follows her worsening mental illness, eviction and eventual homelessness.

“She’s probably one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met in my life. She’s hilarious, a great sense of humor, the most amazing artist,” said filmmaker Karen Gehres, who had been friends with Hill since the 1990s.

“She could do anything. She could sculpt. She could paint anything. Make jewelry. She did it all and she was a very highly intelligent person and a very loyal friend. Until the mental problems kicked in, she was one of the greatest friends you could have.”

Gehres last spoke to Hill about seven years ago. At that point Hill was already living in Central Park.

“She sort of distanced herself from everyone in her past,” Gehres said.

“She resisted leaving the park when I was still talking to her. She was a very, very, very fiercely independent person. Anybody that’s ever dealt with anybody that has mental illness, they know that sometimes it just doesn’t matter what you say, how much you try.”

Hill became increasingly paranoid and developed delusions that she was being surveilled.

Despite being homeless, Hill continued to make art, and became a beloved part of the Central Park birding community. She often painted the birds in the park and sold the artworks to tourists.

“She’s not just a woman and she’s not random. She’s a real character,” said friend Joe Lopez. “She was in charge of the bird feeders here for a while.”

Lopez, who owns three of Hill’s paintings, rushed to the gazebo when he heard about Hill’s fate.

“I’m here because she was talented. She brought joy to me with her artwork,” he said. “We had great conversations. We talked about nature and wildlife.”

Hill was found dead a short distance from the Ramble and the Central Park boathouse near East Drive and E. 74th St. shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday. She had been beaten with a wooden stick, which has not been recovered, police say.

Hill also went by the name Francis Lee Rogers.

Jonathan Robles, 36, was charged Sunday night with murder and weapons possession for the slaying after turning himself in at a local NYPD stationhouse, police said.

The suspect lives in a transitional housing facility in Hell’s Kitchen, according to cops. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for an injury to his hand after his arrest.

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