What to Know
- Authorities say a Queens man killed his former landlord by torching her house because he was angry she had kicked him out of it
- Prosecutors say 49-year-old Persaud Rampersaud doused Bebe Joamin's bedroom with a flammable liquid Tuesday night and set it on fire
- The 63-year-old Joamin, who used a wheelchair after family said she recently suffered a stroke, was found dead in her bed
Authorities say a Queens man killed his former landlord by torching her house because he was angry she had kicked him out of it.
Prosecutors say 49-year-old Persaud Rampersaud doused Bebe Joamin's bedroom with a flammable liquid Tuesday night and set it on fire. The 63-year-old Joamin, who used a wheelchair after family said she recently suffered a stroke, was found dead in her bed.
The suspect, who family and neighbors say lived in the building on 219th Street in Queens Village, could be seen on surveillance footage pacing around two cars in the driveway just after 11 p.m. Tuesday night before appearing to enter and quickly exit the building.
The district attorney's office says Rampersaud was injured in the fire and is hospitalized. He was arraigned Friday by video link on murder and arson charges.
Prosecutors say Rampersaud was living in the home with the victim's niece, who he was dating, until late August when the victim told him to leave. They say Rampersaud admitted to setting the fatal fire when police arrested him.
Rampersaud's attorney, Arnold Levine, said he had no comment.
Firefighters were quickly able to put out the blaze at the two-story residence, and discovered Joamin after the fire had been extinguished.
An investigation is ongoing.
