Man found dead in trash bag in NYC was devout churchgoer, pianist from Ghana

The man who was found dead in a trash bag in Brooklyn last week was a “devout” churchgoer from Ghana who played gospel music on the piano, according to his neighbors. Joseph Owusu, 24, was found lifeless in a garbage bag around 9:20 a.m.Oct.

30 outside a church at East 93rd Street and Avenue L in Canarsie, according to the Embassy of Ghana. Footage obtained by News 12 shows one person unloading the large black bag holding Owusu’s body from the truck of a white sedan – as another occupant of the car stood by – before abandoning it on the sidewalk.Owusu lived in the Olinville section of the Bronx, where neighbors described him as a charming and delightful person who regularly attended church in that borough. “He could walk into a room and light up a room,” said neighbor Derrick Jackson, 55.  “I saw him the day before, just here in the hallway,” added Jackson, a former paramedic.“It was just regular, ‘Hey what’s going on, all right, have a blessed day.’ That’s it.” Owusu worked as a caregiver for people with disabilities, and was a chorister at his local Methodist church, according to the embassy.“He is remembered by the family as a beloved son and brother, and his tragic loss has left his family and community devastated,” the diplomatic mission posted on Facebook. Jackson recalled that Owusu could often be seen playing gospel tunes on his keyboard in the hallway. “He was always working, doing something productive,” the neighbor added.

“He wasn’t hanging out on the streets.I just hope he gets justice.”He fell short for words when asked what he thought may have led to Owusu’s death.“That was pure evil,”  Jackson said.

“Something needs to be done.It could be my own child.”Tatiana Fields, who has lived in the apartment building for 10 years and grew up alongside the Owusu family, described him as extremely well-mannered.“His whole family, they were into church so they went to church every Sunday,” Fiel...