As a decomposed body found floating in the river Tuesday was identified as that of the missing doctor's wife, the mystery of what happened to her remained unsolved.

Some investigators speculated she had been pushed or thrown into the water, but other law enforcement officials said suicide or an accident was more likely.

Aronov's loved ones grieved in seclusion - with her 9-year-old daughter, Veronica, still certain her mother had been abducted and murdered.

"I'm angry that my mother didn't fight the bad guy - that she didn't scream," the distraught girl told a family friend.

Ed Hayes, attorney for husband Alexander Aronov, said the family is anxious for answers.

"We don't even know if a crime was committed," he said. "The assumption was if a woman disappeared under these circumstances, it was a crime, but we just don't know."

Missing for 2 months

Aronov, a mother of two and dealer in rare art, disappeared March 3 after leaving her York Ave. building to walk the family cocker spaniel, Bim.

Frustrated detectives looked into possible links to the Russian mob, the victim's love life and her husband's business dealings without success.

Their first break came Tuesday, when the body of a blond woman was found in the river near a Long Island City, Queens, restaurant.

A Cartier watch, a bejeweled gold ring and clothing made it likely the body was that of Aronov - and dental records confirmed it yesterday morning.

A dog found floating in the water near Beechhurst, Queens, initially was thought to be Bim, but forensics ruled that out.

At 11:30 a.m., detectives arrived at the Aronovs' apartment and delivered the grim news.

"It was as hard as it could be," close friend Olga Dolgicer said.

Alexander Aronov collapsed in his brother Arkadiy's arms. "He's a shambles. He's sick to his stomach," she said.

An autopsy found the cause of death was drowning, but cops were still unsure whether it was a homicide, suicide or accident.

The postmortem detected three "small, superficial" bruises on Aronov's left knee, right knee and front of her leg. They correspond to the height of a metal barrier that separates the promenade near the Aronov home from the East River.

"It appears she was alive when she went into the water, and the bruises are the height of the railing," a source said. "Right now, it appears that her death was a terrible accident."

To get from her home on York Ave. and 64th St. to the water, Aronov would have had to cross a pedestrian bridge over the FDR Drive at 62nd St. That day, the swirling river was freezing. The average temperature was just 25 degrees.

One investigator said the fact that her body being found without the coat she left home with indicated possible foul play.

"Why would she kill herself?" that source said. "She had girls at home. There were no signs of her thinking about suicide."

Robbery unlikely

A second source said suicide is more probable than a botched mugging or kidnapping.

"The fact that her watch and ring are still on her would seem to rule out any robbery," the investigator said.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said now that Aronov's body has been found, detectives will reinterview friends, witnesses and others.

He would not say whether police still have questions for Alexander Aronov.

With Jose Martinez and Richard Weir