'Guilty': Jury Convicts Peekskill Man In Murder Of Social Worker Making Home Visit

PEEKSKILL, NY — A jury has convicted a Westchester man in the brutal slaying of a social worker who was making a home visit.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that a jury found Hasseem Jenkins guilty Wednesday afternoon of murdering Department of Social Services worker Maria Coto in 2024.

"First and foremost, I want to thank the jurors for exercising their civic duty with such care and consideration," Cacace said. "Maria Coto's life was cut short on May 14, 2024. As proved during a multi-week trial, Hasseem Jenkins beat her until the nerves in her brain stem were severed beyond repair, hurling repeated epithets as she lay dying on the floor."

The jury convicted Jenkins of felony second-degree murder, felony first-degree manslaughter, felony first-degree robbery, felony first-degree burglary, and felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Shortly after 3 p.m. on May 14, 2024, while Coto was conducting home visits on South Street in Peekskill, Jenkins repeatedly punched her in the face, chased her into a neighbor's apartment, and repeatedly kicked her in the head while wearing heavy boots.

The Peekskill Police Department responded to the scene and arrested Jenkins, who cops say resisted the arrest. Officers also recovered the victim's cell phone from Jenkins' pocket.

Coto, who sustained a severe brain bleed, brain swelling and multiple facial fractures, was treated for her critical injuries at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. She was placed on a ventilator and remained unconscious until she was pronounced dead weeks later on June 19.

"Maria devoted her brief time on Earth to helping others," Cacace said. "She was a petite woman with an uncommonly generous spirit. She will live on in all the lives she touched along the way. I am grateful to the jury for holding the defendant responsible for killing Maria. My office will continue to support Maria’s family and all crime victims in Westchester County."

The 32-year-old will be sentenced on Dec. 11.

SEE ALSO:

• Westchester Puts New Safety Measures In Place For Social Services Staff After Assault
• Murder Indictment In Savage Attack On Social Worker
• Attempted Murder Charges In Attack That Seriously Hurt 56-Year-Old
• Westchester Caseworker Dies Weeks After Attack In A Peekskill Home
• Vigil Honors Westchester County Social Worker Maria Coto