A New York City woman has admitted to fatally striking her aunt with a hammer during an argument at their Manhattan apartment.
Kristie Miro, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Sept. 25 in connection with the death of her aunt, Ana Nieves, 56, in February 2022, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Under the terms of her plea, Miro is expected to be sentenced on November 12 to 16 years-to-life in state prison, Bragg noted.
“Kristie Miro committed a brutal and deadly act of family violence that took her aunt’s life,” Bragg said. “Losing any loved one to violence is incredibly painful, and unimaginable at the hands of another family member. I hope this measure of accountability can bring some comfort to Ms. Nieves’ loved ones, who continue to endure the effects of this senseless tragedy.”
The incident occurred while Miro was living with her aunt in their East Harlem apartment.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2022, Miro’s cousin arrived and found Miro “visibly upset and holding a hammer,” Bragg said. Miro explained that her girlfriend had broken up with her and that her aunt wanted her to move out.
Later that evening, Miro’s cousin and Nieves went to a party together but left separately early the next morning. Miro’s cousin attempted to reach Nieves throughout the day, but received no response to calls or texts.
When the cousin’s friends checked on Nieves’ apartment, Miro told them her aunt was not home. Separately, a building resident requested a wellness check from police. At 4 p.m., officers visited the apartment and spoke with Miro, who again insisted Nieves was out.
When officers eventually entered the apartment, they discovered Nieves dead in her bathtub, wearing the blood-covered clothing she had worn to the party.
Nieves’ violent death left her family in shock.
“I’m completely numb and I’m hurting. I went to church today and cried it out because I just can’t get in my mind why her. She would give you her last,” Nieves’ sister, Lucy Nieves, 52, told the New York Daily News at the time.
“What’s the worst thing about it?” she added. “It’s family. How do you swallow that pill?”
