Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Accused Of Beating Elderly Man To Death Was High On Molly, Mother Claims
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2014
Modified May 14, 2014
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 May 14, 2014
Modified May 14, 2014
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
The suspect who was arrested yesterday for allegedly fatally beating an elderly man to death in the East Village on Friday reportedly told his mother he was high on Molly before that attack. Jamie Pugh, 20, has been charged with second degree murder, assault, and robbery in the death of 68-year-old Ruan Wen Hui. His mother, Charlotte Pugh-Douglas, said in court today that someone had slipped Molly into his drink at a party Friday evening. “He wasn’t in his right state of mind,” she said, according to DNAInfo.
Graphic surveillance video shows Hui being approached by a man on East 6th Street near Avenue D at around 8:45 p.m. Friday night. The suspect throws Hui to the ground before punching and stomping on his head. Hui, who lived on Avenue C and had just walked his grandchildren home at the time of the attack, died of his injuries on Sunday night.
Pugh's mother added that her son didn't remember the attack, and only became aware of it when a friend showed him the surveillance footage and noted the attacker looked like him. "When he saw the video, it killed him inside. It hurt him. He was crying all weekend. He knows it’s him. He just didn’t remember," Pugh-Douglas said. Police were tipped off to Pugh's location by someone in the neighborhood Tuesday night.
"We feel so bad for the family and the man,” Pugh-Douglas said, adding that her son has a 1-year-old daughter and was trying to get a job in security. “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart, and so is Jamie. He’s a good kid. He doesn’t get into this stuff. If his friend hadn’t slipped him those Mollys, this man would still be alive.”
Tagged
death
drugs
east village
ecstasy
jamie pugh
Molly
police
ruan wen hui
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 sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
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
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
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
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
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 .