Authorities arrested the health aide at the home of an elderly Staten Island man who was killed and found with the words “I grope girls“written on the chest. The defendant was captured months after the body of the 80-year-old victim was found.
On Monday, police charged Rene Ayarde, 28, with murder, manslaughter and assault in connection with the death of Robert Raynor on July 19, 2021. The motive for the murder remains unclear and authorities did not provide further new details about the case.
A spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had said Raynor died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, and ruled his death a homicide. Aside from the disturbing message scrawled on his chest, Raynor had the words “Toco” written on one foot, law enforcement sources said.
Ayarde lived with Raynor, according to a police source with knowledge of the investigation, and was also charged with child abuse following Raynor’s death for allegedly beating her 3-year-old daughter. Police did not say she was a suspect in Raynor’s murder until her arrest Monday.
When someone tried to call for help, Ayarde allegedly said “are you calling the police? Give me your phone” before shooting down the witness. When the police arrived, they saw bruises on the girl’s neck, as well as old wounds on the knees, face and cheek, all in various states of healing.
Her daughter told police: “I was outside and Mom threw me on the floor.”
All of this happened just as the police were beginning to examine the evidence for Raynor’s murder. Police have said that Raynor has no history of sex crimes and that he was not a registered sex offender. His daughter has also defended him, telling the NY Daily News that he could never abuse children.
– .
