N.Y. man allegedly poisoned estranged wife with cyanide 1 day after she served divorce papers

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (TCN) -- A man has been charged after he allegedly poisoned the mother of his children with cyanide when she returned home from taking them to school. 

The Nassau County District Attorney announced in a statement that Asif Qureshi, 53, was arraigned Jan. 8 on grand jury indictment charges of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary.

On Oct. 17, 2025, Aleena Asif, 46, dropped off two of her three children, ages 14 and 7. Within minutes of returning home, she was allegedly fatally poisoned by Qureshi, her estranged husband, who had snuck in while she was away and was lying in wait. Surveillance footage showed him leaving on an electric scooter about an hour later, the district attorney said. He was arrested on Oct. 23, 2025.

The New York Post reports Qureshi allegedly soaked a rag in cyanide and sulfuric acid and held it to Asif’s mouth. The district attorney described it as “an awful and horrific way to die.”

That afternoon, the oldest child, age 18, received a call that Asif had not picked up the 7-year-old from school. The 18-year-old, who had been away that day for college classes, then called the police, according to the district attorney’s statement. Responding officers found Asif deceased on her bed with burns around her mouth. A medical examiner determined she had died from inhaling cyanide.

The New York Post reports Asif had served Qureshi divorce papers the previous day.

Qureshi is due back in court Feb. 18 and is being held without bail, the New York Post reports.

MORE: