An 85-year-old Staten Island man has been charged with the murder of his 87-year-old wife after an altercation at their home last Thursday night escalated to fatal violence. The NYPD reports that Pitarbhai Khristi is accused of stabbing his wife, Laxmiben Khristi, in the chest at their residence located at 33 Carmel Court, as per a statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, obtained by SILive.com.
Officers responding to the incident discovered the victim with a stab wound. She was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where she was later proclaimed deceased. The nature of the couple's dispute has not been revealed, but law enforcement sources confirmed to SILive.com that a verbal disagreement led to the violence. A knife, later found on the suspect, and another recovered in a bedroom, are believed to be related to the crime.
Pitarbhai Khristi was taken into custody shortly after police arrived at the scene, with charges of second-degree murder laid against him. This incident marks a disturbing occurrence in the otherwise calm Dongan Hills area, as noted by NYPD crime statistics indicating this is the first murder within the 122nd Precinct for the year 2024.
Details are still emerging, however, Gothamist reported that the call to the police was made around 11:30 PM on the night of the assault. The Khristis' relationship was later confirmed to be marital by a law enforcement source, despite initial police reports not specifying their connection.
