A father of three facing a divorce is now facing murder charges, after police on Long Island accused him of killing his estranged wife using chemicals.
Officers went to perform a wellness check at a home on Larch Drive in Herricks just before 4 p.m. Friday, when they found 46-year-old Aleena Asif unconscious and not breathing — along with apparent facial burns, Nassau County police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said that Asif Quereshi, who had been married to the victim before she filed for divorce, snuck into the home and hid inside, waiting about an hour for her to be alone. That’s when the the out-of-work software engineer killed her, prosecutors alleged, after their three kids had gone to school. Sources said the wellness check was ordered after Asif did not pick up her kids after classes as usual.
“She was a very beautiful human being and very hard working. She didn’t deserve this kind of thing,” the victim’s brother said outside of court on Friday after the 53-year-old Quereshi pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges.
Nassau County police said that although the couple had separated, Quereshi wanted back into the family home.
The medical examiner had ruled that Asif was asphyxiated by an unknown chemical substance, which prosecutors said is likely to have been a cyanide-like compound that was used to suffocate her.
Police said that prior to the killing, officers had been called to the home five times for domestic incidents. Quereshi was arrested once before, but no orders of protection were issued for his wife.
“There was threats of violence, most of it verbal. Fighting over their finances,” said Det. Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick. “She reported a threat that he wanted to make her swallow bleach.”
Despite all that had transpired, Asif never changed her home’s locks or security code.
On the day of the alleged murder, prosecutors said surveillance video showed Quereshi going to and leaving the home, dressed in a mask and gloves.
Neighbors expressed concern for the family’s three children.
“That [police] have the perpetrator is good news. That it’s their father is worse news for them,” said neighbor Jim Hennessy.
Those kids — ages 18, 14 and 7 — are now in the care of family members. Prosecutors said the charge against Quereshi could be upgraded to first-degree murder. He has denied any involvement in the killing.
An investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the death are asked to to contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or dial 911. All callers will remain anonymous.
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