Herricks, NY – Asif Qureshi, 53, has been arrested for the murder of his estranged wife, Aleena Asif, 46. He faces one count of murder and two counts of burglary, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The alleged poisoning occurred on October 17 at their home in Herricks. Qureshi reportedly gained entry while his wife was out dropping off their children at school.
Witnesses claim he wore dark clothing and a mask while slipping into the residence. Once inside, he allegedly secluded himself until Aleena returned home.
At around 10:50 a.m., Qureshi left the house adorned in the same outfit, carrying a large black duffle bag. He reportedly used an electric scooter to flee the scene.
Aleena’s eldest daughter was alerted by the school that her mother never arrived to pick up her younger sister.
When authorities arrived, they found Aleena deceased in her bedroom, with red burns around her mouth. An autopsy revealed she died from asphyxiation due to inhalation of cyanide.
Surveillance footage linked Qureshi to the events surrounding the murder. Video from a nearby 7-Eleven and bus stop showed him wearing the same clothing before and after the incident.
Additional footage from the week prior appeared to show him observing the residence. Police executed a search warrant at Qureshi’s home and recovered items connecting him to the crime.
Qureshi had allegedly stalked his estranged wife for months following her divorce request. He was arrested on October 23 and arraigned the following Thursday, entering a plea of not guilty.
