MINEOLA, NY – A Long Island man has been indicted on murder charges after prosecutors say he broke into his estranged wife’s home, hid inside, and killed her by holding cyanide over her face while their children were away at school.
Asif Qureshi, 53, of Bellerose faces charges of second-degree murder and burglary in connection with the October death of Aleena Asif, 46. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly described the alleged crime in chilling detail during a press conference this week.
“When he had her alone, he allegedly held cyanide over her mouth, killed her, and left her body for their children to gruesomely discover,” Donnelly said.
According to prosecutors, Qureshi entered the family home on the morning of October 17 while his wife was out dropping their 14-year-old son at school. He waited inside as she briefly returned home with their 7-year-old daughter, then left again around 8:50 a.m. to walk the younger child to class.
Aleena returned home after 9 a.m., unaware her estranged husband was hiding inside. Surveillance footage showed Qureshi remained in the residence until nearly 11 a.m. before fleeing on an electric scooter.
When Aleena failed to pick up her daughter from school that afternoon, her 18-year-old daughter contacted police. Officers found the 46-year-old mother dead in her bedroom with burns visible around her mouth and nose. The medical examiner determined she died from chemical asphyxiation.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing Qureshi at the residence on multiple occasions, including arriving the morning of the murder dressed in dark clothing.
Qureshi was arrested a week after his wife’s death and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He’s currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on February 18.
The couple had been going through a separation at the time of the killing, according to court records.
