Man Who Beat Social Worker to Death After She Mistakenly Knocked on His Door Convicted of Murder By Liam Quinn

A New York man who beat a social worker to death after she knocked on the wrong door was convicted of murder.

Hasseem Jenkins was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The charges date back to May 14, 2024, when social worker Maria Coto, 56, was attacked while conducting a site visit in Peekskill, N.Y., the Westchester District Attorney’s Office said.

According to the D.A.’s office, Jenkins “repeatedly punched [Coto] in the face, chased her into a neighbor’s apartment and repeatedly kicked her in the head while wearing heavy boots.”

As a result of the attack, Coto suffered a brain bleed, brain swelling and facial fractures. She died in the hospital five weeks after the attack.

“Maria Coto’s life was cut short on May 14, 2024,” District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. “As proved during a multi-week trial, Hasseem Jenkins beat her until the nerves in her brain stem were severed beyond repair, hurling repeated epithets as she lay dying on the floor.”

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“Maria devoted her brief time on Earth to helping others,” the statement continued. “She was a petite woman with an uncommonly generous spirit. She will live on in all the lives she touched along the way.”

CBS reported that authorities said Coto was at an apartment building when she mistakenly knocked on Jenkins’ door. At the time, prosecutors reportedly said, Jenkins was high on PCP.

Jenkins will be sentenced in December, prosecutors said.