Bronx woman indicted for fatal hospital beating of sleeping roommate
BRONX, NY — A woman was indicted Wednesday on manslaughter and assault charges after allegedly attacking and killing her hospital roommate while she slept inside Lincoln Hospital in the early hours of the morning.
Racquel Haughton, 44, of Southern Boulevard, was arraigned in Bronx Supreme Court for the deadly September attack that left 55-year-old Cynthia Vann in a medically induced coma before she died weeks later. Haughton has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault. She was remanded and is due back in court on February 25.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. on September 10 inside NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, where both the defendant and the victim were receiving treatment and assigned to the same room. According to the investigation, Haughton allegedly approached Vann while she slept and struck her repeatedly in the head.
Hospital staff rushed to the room after hearing the victim scream. When they arrived, Haughton was reportedly watching television. Vann was critically injured and placed in a medically induced coma, but she died on September 27.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office announced Haughton’s arrest on October 20 following an investigation led by the Bronx Homicide Task Force. She was formally indicted and arraigned Wednesday.
The case is being prosecuted by Major Case Assistant District Attorney Sonja Jamelo of the Homicide Bureau. Prosecutors have not released a possible motive in the attack.
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Key Points
- Racquel Haughton indicted for fatal beating of 55-year-old Cynthia Vann inside Lincoln Hospital
- Attack occurred while victim was asleep in a shared hospital room on September 10
- Vann died 17 days later after being placed in a medically induced coma