64-year-old woman killed in Queens by former employee over backpay, NYPD says
OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) -- A 64-year-old woman was killed Thursday and left on the landing to her Ozone Park home -- apparently in a dispute over money.
Juliet Kashidas-Singh was found dead just before 5:30 p.m. outside her home on 103rd Avenue in Ozone Park.
When police arrived, they found Kashidas-Singh unresponsive and lying in front of her home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy performed by the medical examiner revealed blunt force injuries of the head, neck and torso to be the cause of death. The injuries appeared to be consistent with both strangulation and beating.
Her death was ruled a homicide and 40-year-old Francisco Sevilla was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Detectives believe the dispute was over $300. Sevilla worked for the victim in her construction business and allegedly thought he was owed money.
"It's a straight up dispute over back pay, fortunately the suspect left his wallet at the scene, that's how we were able to identify him," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
The suspect, who has one prior arrest in 2006, told detectives he was drunk and does not remember what happened.
He was found standing on a nearby street corner, with blood on his hands.
Neighbors were stunned by Kashidas-Singh's death.
"I just know she's a very nice lady and she gets together with the other women on my block," said neighbor Monica Meneses. "They're all at that age, you know? So they all get together, walk around doing the wash, you know? It's sad. It's sad."
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