Queens man indicted for beating wife to death, crushing her brain stem in jackson heights apartment

Queens man indicted for beating wife to death, crushing her brain stem in Jackson Heights apartment

Posted by
1 min read
July 24, 2025

QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens man has been indicted for the fatal beating of his wife last November, accused of inflicting injuries so severe they crushed her brain stem, authorities said.

Jose Lequerica, 50, was arrested Tuesday at his home on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights by officers from the NYPD’s 115th Precinct. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, 48-year-old Asli Ak.

The attack occurred on the night of November 15 inside the couple’s apartment. According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Lequerica repeatedly struck Ak in the face, head, and body during a violent assault in their bedroom.

After the beating, prosecutors say Lequerica left the home for two hours and, upon returning, chose to sleep on the couch without checking on Ak’s condition. The next morning, at approximately 10:45 a.m., he reportedly found her unconscious on the bedroom floor but did not seek help for several hours.

He eventually called 911 at 6:22 p.m. Emergency responders transported Ak to Elmhurst Hospital, where doctors found she had sustained extensive trauma to her face, head, and body. She was declared brain-dead on November 20.

“On the morning of Nov. 17th, I got a visit from detectives of the 115th precinct informing me that my sister Asli was in Elmhurst Hospital with a severe head injury. This crushed my soul, but still, I remained positive and optimistic despite what I was told. Life hit hard 3 days later on November 20th when she was pronounced dead. At 48 years old, we lost her too soon. This has come as a shock to all who knew her. We would like to see the ongoing police investigation through and justice served,” said her brother Osman Ak.

An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide.

“The autopsy revealed that she had severe head injuries including a hematoma that caused swelling inside the head, crushing her brain stem,” the Queens DA’s office said in a statement.

Lequerica pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis.

The family is hosting a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family financially.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss