Man sought in murder of Chelsea bird man

Police are requesting the public's assistance in locating a young man who attempted to use an ATM/debit card belonging to murder victim John Laubach at a Chase bank after his Friday murder in Chelsea.

Authorities released a man who was earlier identified as "a person of interest" after extensive questioning on Monday. Contrary to published reports, he was not one of two men seen accompanying Laubach, 57, in video obtained at the victim's apartment building at 212 W. 22nd St., police said.

Police would not say how many suspects they were searching for in the murder of the retired florist, known for his volunteer work at The Church of the Ascension on Fifth Avenue and for carrying Bolo, his pet cockatoo, on his shoulder.

"There could be one; there could be more than one" suspect in the murder of Laubach, who was found inside his apartment bound and gagged with duct tape, a police spokesman said.

"The investigation is continuing," he added.