A Bronx man, Khaleel Cooper, is facing a murder charge for the fatal stabbing of the mother of his two children. The crime occurred in the presence of their 2-year-old daughter, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
Tamara Rowe, 40, was found dead with visible injuries inside an East 232nd Street apartment after a relative contacted authorities on the evening of June 28. Her body was discovered alongside the couple’s young child, who was unharmed.
District Attorney Darcel D. Clark emphasized the gravity of the allegation, stating, “This defendant is accused of viciously stabbing the mother of his children while their 2-year-old daughter was present in the apartment,” and pledged to obtain “justice for the children and their family,” as reported by the DA's office.
Cooper, age 39, was indicted on multiple charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and endangering the welfare of a child, he was remanded after being arraigned by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas, his next court appearance is scheduled for October 21, and prosecutors from the Domestic Violence Bureau under the DA's Special Victims Division spearhead the case with assistant from NYPD detectives credible for their investigative efforts, as per to the indictment announcement.
An indictment does not constitute proof of guilt but formally brings charges against the defendant. Cooper surrendered to police two days after the incident and allegedly made incriminating statements during transport to the precinct, as the case moves forward toward trial.
