New York City, New York – A man arrested earlier this week for allegedly concealing a dead woman in a sleeping bag in Kips Bay now faces murder charges, along with other offenses, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office. Chad Irish, 55, was arraigned on Thursday in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon and misdemeanor menacing.
The arrest of Irish came after authorities found the body of 31-year-old Manhattan resident Yazmeen Williams wrapped in a sleeping bag with a gunshot wound to her head last Friday. Police were alerted to the suspicious package by a 911 call reporting a foul odor in front of a residential building on East 27th Street. The city’s medical examiner later ruled Williams’ death a homicide.
Surveillance footage from the building where Irish and Williams reportedly lived together showed him moving the blue sleeping bag on a dolly. Further video evidence captured an altercation between the couple, with Irish allegedly threatening to shoot Williams. Witnesses also claimed to have seen Irish discard the sleeping bag in the area where Williams’ body was found.
In addition to the murder charges, Irish is facing allegations of menacing after reportedly brandishing a weapon at a witness on East 28th Street. A spokesperson for the Legal Aid Society, representing Irish, stressed his entitlement to the presumption of innocence and requested full disclosure of evidence from prosecutors.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with a video circulating on social media showing an angry crowd confronting the authorities as Irish was taken into custody. The neighborhood where the crime took place, encompassing Kips Bay, has seen an uptick in violent incidents this year compared to the previous year, according to NYPD data.
As the case progresses, the community remains on edge, seeking justice for the victim and answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her tragic death. With the legal process underway, the spotlight shines on the importance of thorough investigation and fair trial proceedings in cases of such gravity.