Accused Killer Jenkins Awaits Trial in County Jail

Today (May 14) marks one-year anniversary of fatal attack on Maria Coto

Memorial to Maria Coto at Department of Social Services (DSS).

By Jim Roberts, [email protected]

May 14, 2025

Vigil Planned Tonight on One-Year Anniversary of May 14 Assault

Tonight, May 14, on the one-year anniversary of the assault on their co-worker Maria Coto, employees of the Department of Social Services (DSS) will gather for a vigil and remember Coto and other DSS workers who were killed or injured on the job. The event is at a restaurant in Yonkers and is sponsored by the union.

Two weeks ago at the White Plains headquarters of the county Department of Social Services, an area was dedicated in memory of Coto and another co-worker who died last year. The sitting area, with a bench and plaque, honors the women, keeping their memory alive.

In the Peekskill office where Coto worked for years and formed close friendships, the wall with her picture is decorated in her memory (see image above).

“It’s still there, and every time there’s a holiday someone will put fresh flowers or a new tablecloth,” said Elizabeth Akinleye.

One year ago today (May 14), a Westchester County social worker came to Peekskill to meet with a client on a routine visit.

Maria Coto was approaching retirement after years of working for the County and she couldn’t know, as she entered an apartment at the back of 900 South St. that afternoon, that her life was about to end.

Westchester County prosecutors allege that on May 14, 2024, 32-year-old Hasseem Jenkins of Peekskill beat Coto senseless in an unprovoked attack.

Coto died one month later at the Westchester County Medical Center after being removed from life support. Jenkins today sits in a cell at the Westchester County jail in Valhalla, just down the road from the Medical Center.

Entryway in rear of apartment at 900 South Street where Maria Coto was attacked. (Regina Clarkin)

After Coto died, the Westchester County District Attorney’s office upgraded the charges against Jenkins and a grand jury indicted him in June 2024 on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree robbery and resisting arrest.

His next court appearance is scheduled for May 15 in White Plains for a pre-trial hearing and to set a trial date. Jenkins will be interviewed by a psychologist for the defense, who will then file a report with his court-appointed attorney, Angelo MacDonald. The prosecutors will also select a psychologist to conduct an interview for the DA.

“Realistically, I expect there is a slight possibility the trial could start at the end of July or in August, but it is more likely to begin right after Labor Day,” MacDonald told the Herald this week.

Jenkins faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life and a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, according to Awilda Alvarado, deputy director of communications for Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace. He has remained in custody since his arrest.

Invitation for remembrance ceremony.

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Bench at headquarters of Department of Social Services (DSS).

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Memorial plaque at headquarters of Department of Social Services (DSS).

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Butterfly memorial at headquarters of Department of Social Services (DSS).

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Brutal beating ends a life in Peekskill

According to the grand jury indictment, Jenkins struck Coto several times in the face with a closed fist. Coto fled to an adjoining apartment and called 911. Jenkins chased her, knocked her to the ground and repeatedly stomped her head, causing her ultimately fatal injuries.

Two witnesses to the attack sent Peekskill police into the apartment after they responded within minutes of the attack. Officers saw Coto sprawled on the floor soaked in blood while Jenkins stood over her with blood on his clothes and boots.

Jenkins refused to comply with the police command to surrender and cursed at them, causing the officers to taser him. As he was handcuffed, he cursed again at the police and at Coto, according to the court papers.

Hasseem Jenkins’ next court appearance is May 15. (WABC-TV)

Prosecutors allege that Jenkins made several spontaneous comments while at Peekskill headquarters, claiming that Coto tried to stab him and that he didn’t harm her. After waiving his Miranda rights, Jenkins told officers he went to visit his uncle and smoked a cigarette that he got from the store.

He told police that a small blonde woman knocked on the door and showed him papers. After that he punched her because he thought someone was trying to attack him, kicked her in the head, noticed she was bleeding a lot and then the police showed up, tased him and he was arrested.

When he attacked Coto in May 2024, Jenkins was facing outstanding charges of disorderly conduct in Peekskill for fighting and violent behavior. According to Peekskill City Court records, he was arrested on Oct. 20, 2023 by Peekskill police and arraigned on Nov. 2.

Jenkins pled not guilty in that case, which was adjourned to a future date six times. He was scheduled for a non-jury trial May 16 in front of Peekskill City Court Judge Lissette Fernandez, but that was postponed because of his arrest in the attack on Coto.

Westchester County Assistant District Attorneys Nadine Nagler and Kevin Jones are prosecuting the case.

About the Contributors

Jim Roberts

Jim Roberts has been in this business for more than 35 years (hard to believe) and still learning every day. A third-generation Peekskill resident, he started as a lowly researcher at the Westchester Business Journal in 1986 and learned how to be a reporter from many veterans in the field. He’s worked in private companies, Connecticut state government and wrote for the Co-op City Times for 10 years before retiring from full-time work in 2019. Roberts wants to contribute to building the Herald into a news website for residents who care about what’s happening in Peekskill.

Regina Clarkin, Publisher

When the Peekskill Herald weekly newspaper ceased publishing in August 2000 it was the first time in the history of the city that there wasn’t a local newspaper. The award-winning weekly was often referred to as the ‘glue’ of the community. Founded on January 9, 1986 by Regina Clarkin, Kathy Daley and Rich Zahradnik with a $7,000 credit card line, the paper filled the void created when the daily Evening Star was sold to Gannett and moved out of town. Founding publisher Regina Clarkin continued to live in the Peekskill Cortlandt area and turned her attention to other life endeavors. Through the ensuing 19 years, Clarkin was frequently stopped in town and asked when she would start up the Herald again. In January 2019, Clarkin decided it was less labor intensive to deliver a weekly blog than a print newspaper so she began posting one story a week about life in Peekskill. After a successful crowd funding campaign in 2020, the Herald was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in July of 2021. Peekskill Herald is a digital relative of the former print edition, featuring many of the favorite aspects of the beloved Peekskill Herald such as old pictures, personality profiles and well written stories about newsworthy events. Regina Clarkin is the editor and publisher of the site. Photo by Joe Squillante