HERRICKS, NY - A Queens man is under arrest after he allegedly murdered his estranged wife with a “cyanide-like” substance at her home in this Long Island community, only days after he was served with divorce papers, The New York Post reports.
Asif Qureshi, 53, was arrested at his Queens residence, where he had been living after his estranged wife, Aleena Asif, 46, was found unconscious and not breathing with severe burns to her face on Oct. 17, sources said. He had allegedly been stalking her for days, looking for an opportunity to kill her, Nassau County police said at a Friday press conference.
ABC 7 reported that he has been charged with her murder. Police allege that Asif Qureshi had just returned home after dropping off the couple’s 7-year-old daughter at school. Nobody else was home at the time of the attack, police said.
According to News 12 Long Island, the couple had three children, ages 18, 14, and 7. At his arraignment, Qureshi’s lawyer pleaded not guilty on his client’s behalf. He denies killing his wife. He is currently being held without bail.
News 12 said a man identifying himself as the victim’s brother told reporters that his sister was “a very beautiful human being” who “didn’t deserve this kind of death.”
Police said there were five recorded incidents of domestic violence at the home. Prosecutors said there was no video evidence of the crime since the family had disconnected the camera, fearful that the defendant would spy on them.
The couple’s 18-year-old daughter notified police to conduct a welfare check on the victim after the victim didn’t pick up the 7-year-old after school.
According to the medical examiner, Aleena died from asphyxiation via an unknown chemical that police believe to be a “cyanide-like substance.”
“On the 17th, we have him showing up, waiting for the right opportunity, waiting for his wife to drop off the kids at school, and then assaulting her and killing her,” Nassau Police Detective Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick told reporters.
The suspect was served divorce papers on Oct. 9 but refused to accept them. He then began showing up outside the victim’s home.
Aleena had asked for a divorce in 2023; however, the couple reconciled the following year. That lasted until this year, when Asif filed for divorce again, Newsday reported.
Asif Qureshi, born in Pakistan but a U.S. citizen, was charged with second-degree murder; however, prosecutors will seek to upgrade the charge to first-degree murder. He had one prior arrest for a domestic incident involving his wife; however, that case is sealed, Fitzpatrick said.
Four of the domestic incidents at the family home involved the victim and one of the couple's 18-year-old daughters.
Most of the fights involved finances; however, Qureshi once threatened to make his wife “swallow bleach,” Fitzpatrick said, according to Newsday. There are no orders of protection on file.
The Post said the family’s children are staying with other relatives.
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