Police arrested a man for the death of his 84-year-old mother, whose lifeless body was found inside her Upper West Side home last year, cops announced Thursday.
The suspect is the 51-year-old son of Ana Asencio, whom police found face-up in the bedroom of her W. 93rd St. apartment near Columbus Ave. around 9:55 p.m. on July 17, 2023.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Asencio’s death a homicide on Jan. 15 after an autopsy revealed that bruising to her neck and injuries to her head resulted from strangulation.
Police are expected to unveil the suspect’s name and a list of charges Thursday evening.
The Daily News contacted Asencio’s son hours after the medical examiner’s findings were announced earlier this year. He declined to comment.
Police found Asencio after getting a call from a worried relative asking officers to check on her.
Lawyers from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office visited the apartment building, where they showed neighbors photos of Asencio’s injuries, according to a resident.
“She didn’t deserve this,” Migdalia Rodriguez, 72, said. “She wasn’t in her right mind but she was a lovely lady.”
Asencio was a retired public school teacher who suffered from dementia and lived with her son in the apartment, which was filthy, Rodriguez said.
“Her son lives here but she was really all alone,” the neighbor said. “I would knock on the door once in a while to see if she’s OK.”
Rodriguez and her mother would bring Asencio food and help her to the bathroom.
“Her legs were swollen,” said the caring neighbor, “she needed help to get around.
“The apartment was always a mess,” she added. “It’s a miracle it doesn’t smell.”
