Bellerose man indicted for alleged cyanide death of estranged wife
Asif Qureshi faces charges of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary.
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A Bellerose man has been indicted for allegedly killing his estranged wife with cyanide inside her Herricks home, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Thursday.
Asif Qureshi, 53, faces one count of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree burglary. He pleaded not guilty Thursday and was remanded.
Prosecutors say that on Oct. 17, 2025, Qureshi allegedly broke into 46-year-old Aleena Asif’s Larch Drive home after she dropped off her children at school, waited for her to return alone, and then held cyanide over her mouth. She was later found dead in her bedroom with burns around her mouth. An autopsy confirmed death by cyanide inhalation.
Investigators say surveillance video shows Qureshi near the home before and after the killing and leaving the scene on an electric scooter. A search of his residence allegedly uncovered gloves and bags matching those seen in video footage. Qureshi was arrested on Oct. 23 in Bellerose.
His next court date is Feb. 18. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
