Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Pregnant Brooklyn Woman Killed Day Before Wedding Had Gotten Death Threats
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 21, 2012
Modified Oct 21, 2012
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 Oct 21, 2012
Modified Oct 21, 2012
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
Yesterday morning, an 8 1/2 months pregnant Brooklyn woman was found fatally stabbed in the neck inside her Brownsville apartment, the day before her wedding was to take place. Vindalee Smith, 38, was pronounced dead in her home on East 94th Street around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Smith, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, had previously received death threats from a former neighbor: “She had some issues with some people in the past who had actually threatened to kill her and her entire family,” her pastor Ferron Francis, of the New Dimension Church, told the Post.
The threats seemed to stop when Smith moved to Brownsville, but she told the pastor she had received new threats just two weeks ago. Smith, who worked for a geriatric, home health-care agency, has four children, including two teenage boys and two girls in their 20's. Her eldest daughter, Monique, arrived at her home yesterday for the baby shower for her soon-to-be-born brother, only to learn the devastating news: “Monique fell on the floor and couldn’t get up,” said a friend from Smith’s church, whose members had been set to throw her a shower last night. “It was so sad. She came for a baby shower and a wedding—but now she has to stay for a funeral.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine who would want to do that,” Smith’s friend, Sybil Samuel, told the News. “It would be the devil to kill a woman with a child in her stomach. They killed two people.” A neighbor told CBS, “Satan is the instigator. He’s only the devil. Satan and his angels that would commit this thing.” Police said there was no sign of forced entry and no weapon was recovered at Smith’s apartment. They've questioned Smith's fiance as well, who has not been named a suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.
Tagged
brooklyn
brownsville
death
fatal stabbing
nypd
pregnant
Vindalee Smith
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
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
All of Staten Island and the Bronx will be eligible for seats.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
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 .