Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Queens Mom Accused Of Fatally Strangling 2-Yr-Old Blamed 7-Yr-Old Daughter
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 15, 2012
Modified Aug 15, 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 Aug 15, 2012
Modified Aug 15, 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
On Monday, a Queens mom was charged with strangling her 2-year-old son to death. Afriyie Gaspard, 29, has been charged with first and second-degree manslaughter, strangulation, assault and endangering the welfare of a child in the death of Izayah Hall, one of Gaspard's six children. According to the Post, Gaspard confessed to "squeezing" Izayah for "a minute...until he stopped crying" on August 10th. But before she confessed, the News reports Gaspard blamed her 7-year-old daughter for the death, repeatedly telling police she “hit or choked” the baby.
Gaspard had initially told arriving officers she "had taken a nap and, when she woke up, Izayah was unresponsive in his crib" on Friday, but the Medical Examiner found marks on the boy’s neck, and Gaspard was arrested Monday. According to WNYC, Gaspard has had her kids taken away on multiple occasion by ACS:
In 2008, her three oldest children were put into foster care after she was accused of leaving them unattended on two different occasions. The oldest child at the time was three. In 2009, a fourth child was placed in foster care shortly after birth, as was Izayah, who was born in 2010. Gaspard’s youngest child, an 11-month-old baby was not removed.
Gaspard's lawyer has already made comments indicating he believes the confession was coerced by police: “She was not in a good mental state of mind,” said attorney Edward Muccini. “She was traumatized." Her sister, Ebboni Gaspard, defended her to the Times Ledger: “What the NYPD did with my sister is completely unfair,” she said, claiming police have forced the confession. “My sister is a saint. She has walked among us devils. That’s how I feel sometimes.”
One neighbor, Magdalia Fonteur, told the Times that Gaspard “was stressed and overwhelmed” and “always looked like she had a lot in her head.” And in one Facebook post from May 22nd, she wrote: "Have'nt posted in a while, but Just been really stressing! Yo, ladies and gentelemen, I really need help! Yall hit me up ok?"
Tagged
Afriyie Gaspard
HOMICIDE
infanticide
queens
strangulation
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
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
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 .