Police arrested and charged a Bronx woman with manslaughter Monday for fatally beating another woman at a city public hospital last month.
NYPD officials said 44-year-old Racquel Haughton is facing charges of manslaughter and assault for allegedly attacking 55-year-old Cynthia Vann in a room at Lincoln Hospital on Sept. 10. Vann remained at the hospital in critical condition for more than two weeks and succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 27, according to police. Officials ruled her death a homicide.
Police did not immediately provide details about where they arrested Haughton. Her arraignment was pending Tuesday in Bronx Criminal Court, and court records show she received a summons for alleged harassment at the hospital on Sept. 19.
Multiple outlets reported Vann was undergoing liver treatment when she was attacked, and the person who assaulted her was thought to be her hospital roommate. Police said they’re still investigating a motive in the killing.
Community advocates have joined Vann’s family in speaking out about purported neglect at Lincoln Hospital, blaming the facility for conditions they say allowed the attack to happen.
“Cynthia’s death was not just a tragedy, it was preventable,” civil rights activist Rev. Kevin McCall wrote in a social media post earlier this month, calling for authorities to make an arrest in the case.
New York City Health and Hospitals did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case early Tuesday. Haughton did not yet have a listed attorney.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.