The death of an Upper Darby mother of two was ruled a homicide by strangulation, according to police. Police are now searching for the woman's boyfriend after she was found dead inside her Delaware County home.
Thirty-eight-year-old Masako Griffin was supposed to meet family members Friday. When she didn't show up or call her relatives, they notified authorities.
Officers arrived at Griffin's home on the 7000 block of Emerson Avenue, Upper Darby around 7:30 a.m. Sunday to perform a well-being check. Once inside, they found her body inside a second floor bedroom.
"She's laying on her back on the floor," said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood. "She has a black cloth or shirt covering her face."
On Tuesday, investigators determined that she was strangled.
Police are working to locate Griffin's boyfriend, who is considered a person of interest. No charges have been filed against him, although he was arrested July 11 for violating a restraining order in place to protect Griffin.
"He's a career criminal," Chitwood said. "Apparently this has been an ongoing domestic issue that she's trying to get out of and he ain't letting it go."
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Officers frequently visited the home in the past for reported domestic violence situations involving the victim and her boyfriend, who is also the father of her youngest child, according to officials.
Family members say Griffin is the mother of a 1-year-old daughter and an adult son. She recently graduated with a nursing degree from the Delaware County Community College. Family members also say her gray Dodge Avenger is missing.
