Estranged Husband Charged in Chemical Homicide

On Oct. 17 officers conducting a welfare check at 143 Larch Drive in Herricks found 46-year-old Aleena Asif unconscious, not breathing and with apparent facial chemical burns; she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Nassau County Medical Examiner ruled her death a criminal homicide by asphyxiation from an unknown chemical substance, which reports describe as cyanide-like, and further testing is pending. Authorities say Asif and her estranged husband, 53-year-old Asif Qureshi of Bellerose, had a history of domestic incidents and financial disputes; Qureshi was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Police allege Qureshi broke into the home and killed her shortly after she dropped their 7-year-old at school, though the investigation and details remain under review. Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers; the case remains under active investigation.