A Rego Park, Queens, woman accused of shoving a man to his death off a New York City subway platform last week apparently has a troubled history, including past arrests.
Erika Menendez has been arrested, and is being held without bail in the death of Sunando Sen. Sen, a native of India, was allegedly targeted by Menendez because she thought that he was a Muslim.
She apparently hated all Muslins, and blamed them for the events of 9/11. Menendez allegedly pushed Sen off a No. 7 train platform, the train which runs between Manhattan and Queens. However, the victim was not a Muslim, he was a Hindu who had lived in Queens for decades.
It is unclear what medications Menendez was using, or what exact mental illnesses she was suffering from. However, the 31-year-old has been arrested several times over the years. The past charges including assault, and cocaine possession. She had also spent time in hospitals.
Witnesses said that before she had been pacing the platform of the No. 7 train, mumbling, before pushing Sen off the platform. She fled the scene, and authorities later released a sketch and video of the alleged attacker to the public, based on the description provided by witnesses. A passer-by later called authorities when they thought she resembled the sketch.
Menendez first appeared in court, where she laugh so much during the arraignment that the judge scolded her for her behavior.
She has been charged with murder as a hate crime.
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