Queens triple murder: Mom, daughter and disabled stepdaughter stabbed to death, hunt on for family member
QUEENS, NEW YORK CITY: Three women in Queens were found stabbed to death in Springfield Gardens on Friday, November 18. According to police, one of them had severe head damage, and two were stabbed in the neck. They were pronounced dead on site. A knife was left behind on the scene and the NYPD is seeking a fugitive family member who shared their Queens home.
The victims were a 68-year-old woman, Hyacinth Johnson, her 47-year-old daughter, and her 26-year-old stepdaughter with a disability. She had several health issues and used a wheelchair. The three women were reportedly discovered in their Springfield Gardens residence on 182nd Street near 146th Drive by the eldest woman's son and a home health aide just before 10 am. Police sources said the suspected killer, 21, fled in the oldest victim’s van after the slayings at around 5 am, as per Daily News.
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Johnson's sister, Nadine Thomas, 53, cried and hugged other family members. "She was just always fun and laughter - high spirits," Thomas said. "I can’t get my head working right," said Donna Hewitt, a cousin of Johnson who was devastated by the slayings. "It was hard to believe. And now I’ve seen it, and it is real," said Hewitt. "(Johnson) was very loving, very caring, very friendly. She got along with everybody. A very nice lady," Hewitt added.
Johnson and the 26-year-old disabled victim were discovered in one bedroom, while the 47-year-old woman was discovered in another. The 26-year-old was reportedly confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk or speak, according to a neighbor. The health aide's brother, Ian Taylor, said that the women were like family to them. "My sister worked with that little girl for almost 10 years," Taylor said. "Take care of that little girl. She couldn't speak, she couldn't walk, nothing. And they are such nice persons. I can't really believe this happened to them. This is a quiet, working class neighborhood," said Taylor. "We are very, very united. We look out for each other."
The police said it was a domestic incident and there is no danger to the public, according to ABC7. Eric Adams, the mayor, visited the crime scene and received a briefing on what took place. The exact cause of death for the victims is yet to be determined by the medical examiner.