Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Boyfriend Allegedly Confesses To Nearly Decapitating Woman
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 10, 2011
Modified Apr 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 10, 2011
Modified Apr 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Police have arrested a LES man who allegedly confessed to stabbing his girlfriend to death this morning. Raul Barrera was charged with the murder of Sarah Coit early this morning in their apartment at 63 Clinton Street. Coit was allegedly trying to break up with him at the time. And neighbors say they could hear Coit screaming for help. "She was yelling ‘No, no, stop, stop, don’t hurt me!’...The cops were yelling, ‘Don’t look, don’t look!’ Her head was almost off, her neck was wide open," said Brianna Andalore, who was staying with a friend in the building.
Several neighbors confirm this account of the sounds coming from the couples apartment around 2:30 a.m. this morning. "I was sleeping in the back bedroom and I heard a lady screaming. I heard her yelling ‘Help me, Help me!’ It went on for quite awhile, at least 20 minutes. She sounded like she was in distress. People from the building were yelling out ‘Where are you? What apartment?'" said Joost Bohner. "I heard her arguing with her boyfriend, it got very loud, she was yelling ‘Stop, get off me!’ Then she got real silent and I heard nothing else," said 15-year-old Jason Figueroa, who lives in the apartment above.
Police arrived to find Coit in a pool of blood. Barrera left the scene, but turned himself into police later this morning. Neighbors added that the couple has lived in the third floor apartment for about two years, and had argued many times before: "My friend who lives her told me this has been going on for awhile, they’ve been fighting like that for months. We were watching from our front window, when she was brought out," said Andalore.
Tagged
Lower East Side
murder
raul barrera
sarah coit
stabbing
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .