The Manhattan neighborhood of Kips Bay is grappling with the murder of 31-year-old Yazmeen Williams. The discovery of her decomposed body, wrapped in a sleeping bag and dumped outside an apartment building, initially had investigators perplexed. Now, the recent arrest of a potential suspect has sparked a wave of anger and grief among family members and neighbors.
The tragedy began to unfold last Friday evening when police responded to complaints of a foul odor emanating from a suspicious package on E. 27th St. near Third Ave.
Upon investigation, officers found Williams’ body, which the medical examiner later determined had been shot in the head. The incident was swiftly classified as a homicide. Surveillance footage revealed a man in a motorized wheelchair as the primary suspect, seen dragging the body down the street.
On Monday, police took 55-year-old Chad Irish into custody. Although Irish has been charged with concealment of a corpse, charges directly relating to Williams’ death are still pending. His criminal history includes 21 prior arrests and recent parole for a robbery in the Bronx.
The arrest of Irish ignited an intense reaction from the local community. A crowd of over 50 people, including Williams’ family, confronted the police as they escorted Irish out of an apartment building. Nicole Williams, Yazmeen’s mother, voiced the collective pain and fury, crying out, “You killed my daughter! Please kill him!” Williams, a graduate of Buffalo State Universit.