A young mother is gone, and a baby girl is still healing from injuries no infant should ever have to carry. In the Allerton section of the Bronx, 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez died early Tuesday after police say she and her 8-month-old daughter were shoved off a 15th-floor balcony.
Cops got the call just before 3:40 a.m. at 2550 Olinville Avenue, the Allerton Arms building, and found Ramirez and her daughter on the ground with injuries consistent with a fall. Both were rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where Ramirez was pronounced dead. At first it looked like a tragic accident, but detectives dug in and ruled that out fast. “Further investigation determined that both individuals had been pushed from a balcony,” the NYPD said.
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Neighbors say they knew something was wrong before the sirens ever showed up. Residents reported hearing screams and desperate pleas coming from Ramirez’s apartment. One woman nearby said she heard the yelling, then a loud crash, then saw the baby on the ground. By Wednesday night, police had their man. Angel Carrasco, 31, was taken into custody late Wednesday.
Reports describe him as Ramirez’s boyfriend or recent ex, which tells you this was a domestic violence case from jump. He now faces charges of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and assault.
The baby is the part that keeps people up at night. She was listed in critical condition for much of the week, though CBS New York reports she is now in stable condition. That’s a small mercy, but stable is not healed, and a long road is ahead for a child who is not even a year old.
Friends are remembering Ramirez as a devoted new mom whose joy showed up in her child. “She’s a new mom and the baby was very happy,” one friend said. Neighbors gathered for a vigil outside her building, candles lit, and they didn’t just come to mourn. They demanded more be done for women dealing with domestic violence.
If you or someone you love is in an abusive situation, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, and in New York City you can reach the NYC Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-4673. Check on your people, and take the red flags seriously.
Pray for that little girl.