NEW YORK, NY – A 44-year-old woman who allegedly beat her hospital roommate to death before disappearing was recaptured Monday afternoon and now faces manslaughter charges in connection with the fatal attack.
Racquel Haughton was arrested around 2 p.m. Monday by New York Police Department officers and charged with assault and manslaughter in the death of Cynthia Vann, 55, who died nearly three weeks after being beaten while she slept in her hospital bed.
Vann had been checked into NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx for an underlying medical condition when she was punched in the head multiple times at around 3 a.m. on Sept. 10. The victim woke up to repeated blows to the head, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Haughton allegedly attacked Vann while she was asleep in her bed at the hospital. The severity of the beating required Vann to be intubated in the intensive care unit, sources said.
Vann remained in critical condition before succumbing to her injuries on Sept. 27. The medical examiner determined she died of blunt force trauma and ruled the death a homicide.
Haughton had previously been arrested for assault in connection with the attack but disappeared after being released while the Bronx District Attorney’s Office was gathering additional evidence to support a homicide charge. Her disappearance prompted a manhunt that ended with Monday’s arrest.
Investigators revealed that Haughton had a history of violence at the hospital. She allegedly attacked a nurse in July and assaulted a patient care associate on Sept. 11, the day after the fatal beating of Vann.
Authorities have not disclosed where Haughton was located or what led to her recapture Monday. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
The case has raised questions about patient safety and security protocols at the hospital. NYC Health and Hospitals has not issued a statement regarding the incident or any potential changes to safety procedures.
