Video shows suspect wanted for murder of elderly Queens woman

The Bobster

Senior News Editor since 2004
https://nypost.com/2020/01/09/video-shows-suspect-wanted-for-murder-of-elderly-queens-woman/

Video shows suspect wanted for murder of elderly Queens woman
By Ruth Weissmann
January 9, 2020 | 10:10am | Updated
Video shows suspect wanted for murder of elderly Queens woman

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Cops Thursday released video of the suspect wanted for the murder of a 92-year-woman who was found dead on a Queens street.

Maria Fuertes was discovered lying in the street at Liberty Avenue and 127th Street early Monday after a 911 caller tipped off police, officials said.

Investigators said an unidentified man approached the elderly woman from behind and knocked her to the ground, severely injuring her neck and back and leaving her with numerous bruises and fractures.

She was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Her death was later ruled a homicide when cops reviewed footage of the incident.

“The NYPD needs the public’s assistance in identifying the person responsible for the heinous crime,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison wrote in a tweet announcing that the incident was being investigated as a murder.

The suspic is described as having medium complexion :mad:, black hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark jacket, dark pants, and a pair of black shoes, cops said.
 
Muslim charged with murder, sex abuse in 92-year-old Queens HF's death

https://www.pix11.com/news/local-ne...-sex-abuse-in-92-year-old-queens-womans-death

Man charged with murder, sex abuse in 92-year-old Queens woman's death: police
Updated: 3:05 PM, Jan 10, 2020

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OZONE PARK, Queens — A 21-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of a 92-year-old Queens woman now faces murder and sex abuse charges, according to police.

Reeaz Khan was taken into custody at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, according to authorities. NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison tweeted Friday morning that a person of interest had been taken into custody with the help of the 106th Precinct and Queens South Homicide Squad.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the @NYPD106Pct Detectives and Queens South Homicide Squad, I’m pleased to announce that we’ve taken this suspect into custody. https://t.co/YPoSkH1A8T
— Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) January 10, 2020

Maria Fuertes was found unconscious and unresponsive on the ground on 127th Street in Ozone Park, near her 103rd Road home, on Jan. 6 just after midnight, police said.

Emergency medical services rushed her to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

A police source with knowledge of the investigation told PIX11 News things changed when they found marks to the victim's neck.

Authorities said Thursday they believe a man seen in new surveillance video approached Fuertes from behind, assaulted her and knocked her to the ground.
 
https://nypost.com/2020/01/10/man-a...woman-told-cops-he-gets-uncontrollable-urges/

Man accused of killing elderly Queens woman told cops he gets ‘uncontrollable urges’
By Larry Celona, Tina Moore, Olivia Bensimon and Natalie Musumeci
January 10, 2020 | 7:02pm | Updated

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Reeaz Khan
Kevin C Downs for the New York Post


The man accused of murdering a beloved 92-year-old Queens “cat lady” told cops he gets “uncontrollable urges” — and killed her because of pent-up anger at his family, law-enforcement sources told The Post on Friday.

Reeaz Khan, 21, confessed to the heinous slaying of elderly Maria Fuertes after authorities picked him up Thursday night and hauled him to the 106th Precinct, where he was arrested and hit with murder and sex abuse charges on Friday, sources said.

Khan told cops that he “was abused his whole life” and upset that he had to move to the US with his family from Guyana a few years ago, a source said.

“He was angry at his father and [claimed] his brothers never liked him :cry:,” the source said. “He gets uncontrollable urges, but he never acted out on it. This was the first time.”

Fuertes, who sources say was strangled, was found mortally wounded and lying on the sidewalk at Liberty Avenue and 127th Street in Richmond Hill, just a block from her home, around midnight Monday.

Medics rushed the nonagenarian to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, but she could not be saved.

“Ms. Fuertes is a defenseless, 92-year-old woman, minding her own business, walking down the street when she was brutally attacked,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison told reporters Friday.

Khan followed Fuertes from Liberty Avenue onto 127th Street, where he came up behind her, threw her to the ground and attacked and sexually assaulted her, police said.

“There was some sort of physical contact between the two … causing both of them to fall to the ground. where they landed behind a parked car,” Deputy Chief of Detective Bureau Queens South Joseph Kenny said.

The attack was partially captured on surveillance footage, but Kenny said, “The perpetrator and the victim were out of view for approximately 4 to 5 minutes” before Khan reappeared and ran northbound on 127th Street.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said the victim was found “with her clothes pulled above her waist and near death” and called the slaying “a senseless, brutal act of violence.”

Kenny, who called Fuertes a “fixture in the neighborhood of Richmond Hill” and someone who “took strolls in the evening quite often,” said that the autopsy revealed Fuertes suffered “multiple injuries demonstrating intentional harm.”

A source said Fuertes and Khan did not know each other, but Harrison said that detail remains under investigation.

Fuertes was out in the late night hour picking up bottles from the street as part of her regular routine, according to sources.

Harrison said that Fuertes suffered “contusions around the neck” and “some injuries around her private area.”

Investigators tracked the Khan to his home about a half mile from the scene of the crime using surveillance footage and tips from the community.

Khan’s brother even called police after the NYPD released surveillance footage of a man wanted in the murder to say that his brother is the one shown in the video, according to sources.
Video shows suspect wanted for murder of elderly Queens woman

As Khan was led out of the 106th Precinct station house in handcuffs Friday, he proclaimed his innocence.

“No, I did not,” Khan, donning a gray hoodie and sweatpants, responded after he was asked by a reporter whether he killed Fuertes.

He faces 25 years to life behind bars if convicted of the crime.

Khan was previously arrested on a charge of assault on Nov. 26 for allegedly slicing his father with a broken ceramic mug inside his Queens home, police said.

The father suffered a laceration to his chest and arm and was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Khan was released on his own recognizance at his arraignment where a temporary order of protection was issued, records show.
see also
Video shows suspect wanted for murder of elderly woman

Meanwhile, neighbors of Fuertes said she was a lover of cats who often spent time walking around the area collecting cans and feeding felines.

“She was willing take any stray cat,” said neighbor Shantie Ram, 57. “Sometimes she would knock on my door and ask if we’ve seen any cats. She’s a very nice person.”

Ram noted that Fuertes “loved to walk in the nights” and that her son, who works at night, used to repeatedly tell her not to walk around at night.

“She would just go walk up and down the block collecting cans, feeding the cats — just so sad,” Ram said.

Jean Hiralal, 76, who lived next door to Fuertes for seven years, called Fuertes “a lovely lady” who “never bothered a soul.”

“Everybody would call her ‘mommy,’ ‘grandma’ or ‘cat lady,’” Hiralal said. “Just a wonderful soul.”
 
https://nypost.com/2020/01/11/man-b...man-told-cops-his-penis-fell-near-her-vagina/

Man busted for killing elderly woman claimed ‘his pants fell’ before alleged sex assault
By Joe Marino and Ben Feuerherd
January 11, 2020 | 12:35am | Updated

The man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a 92-year-old woman in Queens claimed to cops that he’d been trying to help the old woman — but then he lost his balance, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his genitals accidentally came in contact with hers :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:, it was revealed in court Friday.

The suspect, 21-year-old Reeaz Khan, told detectives that he found the woman, Maria Fuertes, on the ground near Liberty Avenue and 127th Street in Richmond Hill at about midnight on Monday and tried to help her, a prosecutor said at his arraignment on Friday.

Khan told detectives, “He fell down, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his penis fell near her vagina,” the prosecutor, Joseph Grasso, said in court.

At that point, something came over him, Khan claimed.

“Defendant then stated that he did lift up her skirt and he tried to put his penis inside of her,” the prosecutor added.

Sources previously said Khan admitted to suffering “uncontrollable urges,” and said that this was the first time he acted on them.

Fuertes lay half-dressed in 32-degree weather for two hours before she was found, conscious but “incoherent,” at around 2 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.

She suffered a broken spine, rib fractures and bruising on her chest and neck, among other injuries, according to court papers.

Prosecutors noted investigators have collected significant surveillance footage that places Khan at the scene and traces him back to his house.

He was ordered held without bond and is due back in court on Jan. 15.

His defense attorney asked the judge that he be placed in protective custody while he is behind bars.

Khan allegedly followed Fuertes from Liberty Avenue onto 127th Street, where he came up behind her, threw her to the ground and attacked and sexually assaulted her, police said.

“There was some sort of physical contact between the two … causing both of them to fall to the ground, where they landed behind a parked car,” Deputy Chief of Detective Bureau Queens South Joseph Kenny said earlier Friday.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, noting the victim was found “with her clothes pulled above her waist and near death,” called the slaying “a senseless, brutal act of violence.”
 
https://abc7ny.com/suspect-in-sex-assault-murder-of-92-year-old-in-country-illegally/5851709/

Man charged in murder, sex assault of 92-year-old Queens woman in country illegally: Officials

1/15/20
RICHMOND HILL, Queens (WABC) -- The homeless man charged in the murder and sexual assault of a 92-year-old woman in Queens is apparently in the country illegally, officials say.

Authorities say 21-year-old Reeaz Khan, who is accused of assaulting and killing Maria Fuertes last week in Richmond Hill, is a Guyanese national.

Immigration officials have moved to detain the 21-year-old who is currently awaiting trial at Rikers Island.

Officials say that back in November, Khan was released from custody after attacking and stabbing his father with a broken coffee cup.

Khan was not turned over to immigration at that time because of the city's sanctuary policy. The city will only turn over offenders after they've been convicted of a violent crime.

"It is made clear that New York City's stance against honoring detainers is dangerously flawed. It was a deadly choice to release a man on an active ICE detainer back onto the streets after his first arrest included assault and weapon charges, and he now faces new charges, including murder," said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York.

Officials say they requested he be detained for deportation after his November arrest, but the city let him go.

The NYPD says they never received the retainer request.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio responded to the criticism saying,
"If Mr. Khan is convicted, the city will cooperate with federal officials in accordance with local law. It is shameful that the Trump Administration is politicizing this tragedy."
 
https://nypost.com/2020/01/23/reeaz...r-old-cat-lady-cleared-in-mug-assault-on-dad/

Reeaz Khan, accused killer of 92-year-old ‘Cat Lady,’ cleared in mug assault on dad
By Georgett Roberts and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
January 23, 2020 | 1:42pm

A 21-year-old illegal immigrant charged with killing and sexually assaulting a 92-year-old grandmother in Queens is no longer facing separate charges of smashing his father with a ceramic mug. :mad:

Prosecutors on Thursday dropped the Nov. 26 case against Reeaz Khan stemming from a scuffle with his dad, noting he “is facing more serious charges” — a murder indictment in the Jan. 6 attack that killed Maria Fuentes in Richmond Hill.

Assistant District Attorney Dylan Nesturrick told Queens Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny that Khan’s father “does not wish to go forward” with the domestic assault case. :mad:

Instead, Khan, an immigrant from Guyana, will return to Queens Supreme Court on Feb. 4 on the murder case. The indictment also charges him with manslaughter, attempted rape and sexual abuse.

Prosecutors said Khan came up behind Fuentes — described as a “cat lady” — on Liberty Avenue and 127th Street and knocked her to the grown and sexually assaulted her.

Khan bizarrely explained that he had bent down to help the woman when his pants fell down.

He was not in court Thursday for the dismissal of the earlier domestic violence case.

His lawyer, Samantha Tucker, did not speak during the brief proceedings and declined to comment to reporters as she left court.
 
https://nypost.com/2020/02/06/judge...-sanctuary-city-suspect-singled-out-by-trump/

Judge nixes no-cameras bid of Reeaz Khan, ‘Sanctuary City’ suspect singled out by Trump
By Rosemary Misdary
February 6, 2020 | 8:56pm

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Reeaz Khan
Brigitte Stelzer


The accused murderer who was singled out in President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech was back in a Queens courtroom Thursday where his request for no cameras was slapped down by an angry judge who insisted, “the public has the right to know.”

Trump had blasted the case of undocumented Guyanese immigrant :mad: Reeaz Khan, 21, during Tuesday night’s speech, saying it was an example of what’s wrong with the “Sanctuary City” of New York.

Khan had been set free after an assault arrest despite an ICE detainer request — and then went on to allegedly sexually assault and murder a 92-year-old woman.

“Enough is enough,” Khan’s lawyer, Johnathon Latimer, had asked the judge in seeking to have cameras barred from the courtroom during a brief pretrial hearing.

“In this particular situation, the public has been inundated with information about this case,” the lawyer complained.

“If there exists a presumption of innocence and due process … the court at some point has to become concerned about the poisoning of public opinion,” the lawyer complained. “At this point it’s just piling on and poisoning public opinion.” :rolleyes:

But the judge allowed a half-dozen still and video cameras to film the proceeding, explaining that while “the case has garnered a lot of attention,” any eventual murder trial would not be tainted “one, two years down the road.”

“It’s news,” he said. “The public has the right to know. I don’t think the public is overburdened by information. Objection is denied.” :D

The judge did limit photography while Khan was seated at the defense table.

In Tuesday night’s speech, Trump had said that Khan’s alleged victim, Maria Fuentes, would still be alive if New York law enforcement had turned Khan over to the feds as requested.
 
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