BRONX WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN THE DEATH OF HER SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that the mother of a seven year old girl, who was found dead on the bathroom floor in their apartment last year, has been charged with murdering the child “in a manner evincing a depraved indifference to human life”.

Danielle Cohen, 34, was indicted on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree following a 15 month long investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alise Nelson, 7, in May, 2003. Cohen was arraigned in State Supreme Court before Justice Dominick Massaro who ordered the defendant held without bail.

The child was pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Service paramedics on May 25, 2003, when they arrived at the defendant’s home at 3232 Hull Avenue, the Bronx after she had placed a call to 911. The girl’s body, already stiff in rigor morits, was found in the bathroom on the floor. “Homicidal asphixia” was the cause of death, according to the Medical Examiner. The defendant was home alone with the victim when death occurred and crime scene investigators found no evidence of forced entry.

Assistant District Attorney Elisa Koenderman, Chief of the Child Abuse / Sex Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case.