29-year-old mother and her 4-day-old son died after her 30-year-old boyfriend she shared the boy with strangled her to death before setting the home on fire; boyfriend arrested
New York – In a horrifying case that has shaken residents in New York, a 30-year-old man, identified as K. Haile, has been charged after strangling his girlfriend to death and setting their apartment on fire, where the body of their 4-day-old son was also found. Haile now faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of K. Carrig, with additional charges expected as investigators await the autopsy results for the infant.
On the morning of October 18, fire department crews responded to reports of a fire at a multi-family home. Flames had engulfed the first-floor apartment of the building by the time firefighters arrived at around 8:35 a.m. After battling the blaze, first responders entered the home and made a grim discovery: the bodies of a woman and a newborn. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Haile, who was still at the scene when firefighters arrived, was transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. He remained hospitalized for several days before his arrest.
An autopsy performed by the medical examiner’s office determined that Carrig had died from asphyxia due to strangulation. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide. On October 23, Haile was formally arraigned and indicted on one count of second-degree murder. He entered a plea of not guilty and is currently being held without bail. The infant’s cause and manner of death remain under investigation. Prosecutors say they are still reviewing evidence and expect to file additional charges once the baby’s autopsy results are finalized.
During a press briefing, District Attorney M. Keane confirmed that prosecutors believe Haile killed Carrig before intentionally setting the fire, using gasoline as an accelerant. The apartment building reportedly sustained an estimated $100,000 in damages as a result of the fire. Haile, according to public records, worked as a financial advisor at an university. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive, and there were no prior indications of domestic abuse made known to the public at this time.
As the investigation continues, the case has left a gaping wound in the local community. Acting Mayor C. Scanlon, who said he had personal ties to the Carrig family, described Carrig as someone who came from a deeply respected and beloved family. “If my personal experience with the Carrig family is any indication of the type of person that Carrig is, I know that this community has lost one heck of a person,” Scanlon said. District Attorney Keane added, “We are saddened by the tragic death of this young mother and her newborn baby. My thoughts remain with the family of these victims as we continue to seek answers and justice.”
If convicted, Haile faces 25 years to life in prison. A court date for further proceedings has not yet been scheduled. As the case develops, it stands as a painful reminder of how quickly domestic violence can escalate into irreversible tragedy—leaving not just one, but two lives lost far too soon.
