New York man charged after social worker is fatally stomped on while on the job, prosecutors say

A New York man was indicted on murder charges this week, accused of attacking a social worker who was on the job when she was stomped on and kicked in the head with “heavy boots” in May, prosecutors said.

Hasseem Jenkins, 31, of Peekskill, is accused of causing fatal injuries to Maria Coto, 56, on May 14, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.

Coto was on duty conducting home visits in Peekskill when “she became the victim of a ruthless and brutal attack that led to her tragic death,” District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah said in the statement. The defendant, prosecutors said, “repeatedly punched her in the face, chased her into a neighbor’s apartment and repeatedly kicked her in the head while wearing heavy boots.”

Coto sustained severe brain bleeding, swelling and multiple facial fractures. She was placed on a ventilator and remained unconscious she died on June 19, prosecutors said.

She was a case worker for the county’s Department of Social Services, prosecutors said.

A county grand jury indicted Jenkins on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree robbery and resisting arrest, prosecutors said.

He was arraigned this week, prosecutors said, and remains remanded to the Westchester County Jail. His next court date is Tuesday, officials said.

Rocah’s statement did not mention a motive. It was also not clear whether Jenkins and Coto had previously known each other.

Jenkins is represented by a public defender who could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon. Coto’s relatives also could not be reached.