A photo of 29-year-old Afriyie Gaspard, taken from her My Space page, accused of strangling her two-year-old son Izayah, pictured here with her, because he would not stop crying. Photo taken from MySpace.
A two-year-old Flushing toddler is dead due to strangulation and on Monday police arrested his mother for the crime.
According to police Afriyie Gaspard, 29, strangled and killed Izayah Hall on Friday afternoon, because he would not stop crying.
But the victim’s two aunts and a next door neighbor say despite her confession to the crime, Gaspard is innocent and the child died after one of his siblings tied a rope around his neck in a game.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Gaspard allegedly told police in a confession that around 3:30 p.m. Izayah was screaming, crying and kicking inside the family’s apartment at 155-14 Jewel Avenue in the Pomonok Houses.
She allegedly admitted putting her hands around his neck and squeezing for approximately one minute until he stopped crying.
Then she said that her son fell to the floor and began gasping. She then picked him up, saw his eyes wide open and threw him on the bed where he continued to make gurgling sounds. She left the room and did not return until 45 minutes later and found her son unresponsive.
The death was ruled a homicide after an examination by the medical examiner.
Sources say Dr. Sean Kelly found small, oval bruises on both sides of the neck. In addition, there was evidence of hemorrhaging in the ocular muscles of the eyes, multiple areas of hemorrhage within the structure of the neck and bruises to the back of the head.”
The examination further determined that injuries were consistent with manual strangulation.
The suspect’s two sisters, Ebboni and Stephanie Gaspard, told The Forum in an interview that they believe that the allegations against their sister were not true.
They did admit, however, to Afriyie Gaspard’s suspect history with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Five years ago she was arrested for endangering the welfare of her child after her daughter was found
The scene outside the apartment building where 2-year-old Izayah Hall is believed to have been strangeled to death by his mother. Forum Newsgroup photo by Natalia Kozikowska.
wandering alone at the intersection of 71st Avenue and Kissena Boulevard.
Her children were taken from her after the 2007 incident and returned to her just recently, in March. Despite that, both sisters insist that she would never do anything to jeopardize being away from her children again.
“She was so happy to have them back,” said Ebboni. “She quit her job so she can spend time with them.” She maintained that Izayah died after his 7-year-old sibling tied a rope around his neck to simulate a dog leash.
Afriyie, she said, was in the kitchen preparing food when she noticed what the children were doing. By then it was too late. Ebboni said that when her sister realized the child was not breathing she called his father, Noel Hall, who told her to call 911.
“They assisted my sister over the phone for 15 minutes on how to resuscitate the baby,” Ebboni said. “I know my sister did not do this. She has her children out here every day and when they are out here running around and playing, she’s out there running around and playing with them. There are good mothers and there are great mothers. My sister was a great mother and loved all her children.”
Stephanie Gaspard, shares her sister’s feelings, believing Afriyie incapable of such a heinous act.
“She’s not that type of person. I went to her apartment and found old Valentine’s Day cards for each and every one of her children. That’s just how she was. They were her best friends. I know she did not do this.”
Both sisters told The Forum that police coerced their sister into a confession. “The 107 precinct took advantage of the fact that she is overly humble,” they said. “They told her—if you tell us what we want to hear, you will be able to go home, but if you don’t you will never be able to see the light of day or your children.”
Her attorney says that police might have coerced his client into confessing, several hours later, after first telling them that her 7-year-old had killed the tot with a rope.
Kendra Roberson, who lives next door, said that the other children told police that the little boy died shortly after playing a game.
“I didn’t hear any noise, said Roberson, “I know when the EMS and the fire department came, a neighbor brought the kids over to me.” According to Roberson, all five children were quesstioned by police and told the same story.” They said that Junior and Izayah were playing with a rope in the room. Mom came into the room, separated the kids and made them lay down. When she came back into the room he [Izayah] wouldn’t get up.”
She is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault, first-degree strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, she could face up to 25 years in prison.
By Patricia Adams and Natalia Kozikowska
