Peekskill community mourns loss of caseworker who died after being assaulted on the job
The Peekskill community is mourning the loss of a caseworker who died after being assaulted while on the job.
Top Stories
The Peekskill community is mourning the loss of a caseworker who died after being assaulted while on the job.
Maria Coto, 56, worked for the Westchester County Department of Social Services.
Peekskill police said she died on Wednesday as a result of the injuries she sustained from an assault that took place back in May at an apartment located at 900 South St.
Police have since apprehended Hasseem Jenkins, 31, in connection with the assault.
He's charged with attempted murder and assault and remains in custody at Westchester County Jail.
Now that Coto has died, police told News 12 that they will now work with the District Attorney's Office to pursue appropriate charges since the circumstances have changed.
News 12 spoke to resident Monty Parks about the tragic loss that is rocking his community.
"I was really shocked by it. It's [a] really unfortunate situation," Parks said. "My sympathy goes out to the family.
The county said it provided escort services to staff in the past but after this incident, it will expand security escorts to staff who are on home visits.
