CARMEL – A 66-year-old taxicab driver from Brewster who had been reported missing by his family in Danbury on December 1 was murdered.

The Putnam Sheriff’s Department was summoned to the Croton Falls Reservoir off Daisy Lane in the southern portions of Carmel Sunday by a fisherman who reported finding a body in the water.

The victim was the cabbie, Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy performed Monday afternoon revealed that Zhunio-Orbez had been murdered.

Police are now investigating the death as a homicide.

Putnam Sheriff Brian Hess said authorities were searching for the victim’s vehicle which was apparently stolen described as a black Toyota Sienna livery cab with the words “ORBESTAXI.COM” printed on the rear. The vehicle is also marked with “V89”

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