Murder suspect stabs wife to death, then hangs himself, marking first killing in NYC in 2018: Police

A man accused of killing a New York woman hanged himself from a tree on Monday, according to police. The woman’s death marked the first homicide in New York City for 2018.

New York Post reports that the victim, an unnamed 26-year-old female, lived in an Ozone Park apartment with her husband, Vishwanand Loknath, 42,  where she was found lifeless, lying face-down on Jan. 1 at around 1:55 p.m. Little is known about why the killing occurred, but Loknath reportedly called a friend shortly before he hanged himself and gave a cryptic message.

“I’m bad. I want to be cremated. Don’t bury me,” the man reportedly said before hanging up without explanation.

The friend, apparently concerned after the strange call, contacted police, who made a welfare check to the apartment, where they found the victim dead, with a knife close to her body. Authorities in a neighboring precinct later found the man’s body hanging from a tree an Park Lane, across from Forest Park. Police pieced together the alleged murder-suicide after speaking to each other about both incidents.

“They’re very quiet people,” explained a woman who declined to give her name. “They’re in and out and don’t bother nobody. Very, very nice people. Nobody will ever tell you that they fight or argue.”

Neighbors reported that the victim had an infant and a little boy around 5 years old.

The story is still developing. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Pixabay]