A 28-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her toddler son in Queens. Nicole Boodhai was arrested last night after her 15-month-old son, Charlie Ramraykha, was found unconscious in a home on 157th Street near 109th Avenue in Jamaica, according to Gothamist.
Police responded to a 911 call regarding an alleged assault around 1:30 p.m. and found both the boy and his mother. Boodhai had apparent self-inflicted slash wounds to her wrists. As per the New York Post, sources indicated that a box cutter may have been involved. The child was later pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and the exact motive remain under investigation. Nicole Boodhai has been charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child. Details about any injuries sustained by the child have not been released.
A worker at a nearby bodega told the New York Post that the toddler’s parents occasionally visited the store for essentials such as milk and water, and appeared to be living separately. The worker said he saw a woman crying as she ran from the house and observed authorities removing Boodhai from the residence during the incident.
Officials reported that Boodhai lived at a different address several blocks from the location where her son was found unconscious. Her lawyer could not be reached, and she awaited arraignment in Queens Criminal Court. According to NYPD data cited by Gothamist, the 103rd Precinct—which covers Jamaica, Hollis, and Lakewood—has recorded six homicides this year through Sunday.
