Outline:
A Tragic Crime: A Man Allegedly Poisoned His Estranged Wife with Cyanide
A man from New York state is currently in custody for allegedly poisoning his estranged wife with cyanide, according to local law enforcement. Asif Qureshi, 53, faces one count of murder and two counts of burglary for the alleged killing of Aleena Asif, 46, as reported by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident took place on October 17, 2025, at a home on Larch Drive in Herricks, a small census-designated place located on Long Island, just a few miles east of Queens. The tragic event unfolded during a routine morning when Aleena left with her two children to drop them off at school. Moments later, Qureshi allegedly entered the house through the front door, wearing a dark hooded jacket, baseball cap, black gloves, and a mask, carrying a red and white tote bag.
The Attack Unfolds
According to a press release from the DA’s office, Qureshi hid while his wife returned to prepare their youngest daughter for school. The victim and child left around 8:50 a.m., and Aleena returned alone at approximately 9 a.m. She would never leave the house again.
At around 10:50 a.m., Qureshi exited the house wearing the same outfit and carrying the same tote bag, along with a large black duffle bag. He then allegedly boarded an electric scooter that had been locked to a telephone pole near the intersection of Marcus Avenue and Denton Avenue, driving down Hillside Avenue toward the Bellerose neighborhood in Queens.
Meanwhile, Aleena’s eldest daughter was attending college classes, having left the house around 7 a.m. That day, she received a call from her younger sister’s school informing her that their mother had not come to pick up the child after school ended. The teenager then contacted the police, who arrived at the house to find the front door locked.
Discovery of the Body
Upon entering the house, officers discovered Aleena deceased in her bedroom, lying face-up in bed with red burns around her mouth. An autopsy conducted by the Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that she died from asphyxiation due to inhalation of a chemical agent. Further tests identified the substance as cyanide.
Evidence and Surveillance
Investigators linked Qureshi to the crime through surveillance footage from a nearby 7-Eleven and bus stop in Queens. The defendant was allegedly seen wearing the same clothes but without a mask before and after the incident. Additionally, footage from a week prior appeared to show Qureshi casing the residence.
“Video evidence captured on October 10, 2025, also allegedly captured the defendant, dressed in the same clothing, locking the electric scooter used to flee the scene a week later to the same pole near Marcus and Denton Avenues,” the DA’s press release stated. “On that day, the defendant allegedly walked up to the home, circled the house, and left. The defendant is again captured on video at a 7-Eleven along the route to the home with his mask down.”
Additional Evidence
Police executed a search warrant at Qureshi’s residence and found black latex gloves “similar to those seen in video surveillance” and “bags consistent with the red and white tote bag” the defendant allegedly carried on the day of the murder.
According to police, Qureshi had allegedly stalked his estranged wife for months after she requested a divorce.
Statement from Authorities
“Aleena Asif brought her children to school on October 17th, 2025, unaware of the danger lurking inside of her own home and her estranged husband hiding in the shadows,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly in a statement. “Asif Qureshi allegedly snuck into the house during school drop-off, lying in wait, until his wife returned home. When he had her alone, he allegedly held cyanide over her mouth, killed her, and left her body for their children to gruesomely discover. A home should be a place of sanctuary, but this defendant turned it into a house of horrors.”
Legal Proceedings
Qureshi was arrested on October 23, 2025, and was arraigned on Thursday, where he entered a plea of not guilty. He is currently being held in the Nassau County Correctional Center without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 18.