A New York man, Waheed Foster, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Jessica Miller, who was strangled to death in 2022.
Foster, 44, has a disturbing history of violent crimes, which includes killing his grandmother when he was just 14 years old.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Foster’s sentence, revealing that he had pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault.
This sentence will be served consecutively to another 22-year sentence he received for an unprovoked attack that injured a subway commuter in Queens.
The tragic events leading to Miller’s death took place on August 4, 2022. On that day, Miller visited Foster at a mental health facility in the Bronx.
They signed in together at the front desk and went to his room. Later that evening, Foster left the building and didn’t return.
It was two days later, during a wellness check, that an employee discovered Miller’s lifeless body in his room.
Before Foster could be officially charged with Miller’s death, he was already in police custody for another crime in Queens.
Just weeks before Miller’s body was found, Foster attacked Elizabeth Gomes, a commuter at the Howard Beach-JFK Airport subway station.
Gomes was punched and kicked in the head by Foster, leaving her with serious injuries, including the loss of her right eye. She shared her experience in a statement at the sentencing for Foster’s attack, saying that she still lives with fear every time she gets on a train.
In a jailhouse interview, Foster responded to the subway attack, saying, “I wasn’t trying to kill her. I was just trying to give a real good a– whooping…
If I stomped her in the face, she’d be dead.” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz later called it a “miracle” that Gomes survived the assault.
Foster’s violent behavior wasn’t a new pattern. His criminal history dates back to 1995 when, at just 14 years old, he killed his 82-year-old foster grandmother.
He later committed other violent acts, including stabbing his sister with a screwdriver. In 2010, he attacked several workers at a psychiatric outpatient treatment center, where he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and anti-social personality disorder.
After walking into the office on June 7, 2010, Foster stabbed one employee with a knife and attacked two others before fleeing the scene.
The judge overseeing Foster’s sentencing for the subway attack, Supreme Court Judge Ira Margulis, expressed concern over the decision to release Foster into society.
He pointed out that Foster should have been in a mental health facility for treatment, as he had shown repeated violent behavior whenever he was not on medication.
“He should have been in a mental hospital, a state hospital being treated there,” Judge Margulis said.
In addition to his criminal history, Foster’s mental health issues have been a major factor in his violent behavior. Foster had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, both of which contributed to his disturbing acts of violence throughout his life.
His inability to manage his condition has led to multiple attacks, and his actions have had lasting consequences for his victims, including the life-altering injuries suffered by Elizabeth Gomes.
The case has sparked widespread discussion about the importance of mental health care and the need for stricter monitoring of individuals with violent tendencies.
Foster’s repeated offenses highlight the potential dangers of releasing individuals with serious mental health issues into society without proper treatment and supervision.
The sentencing of Waheed Foster marks another chapter in a long history of violence. His actions have caused immense pain for the victims and their families, and his continued crimes show how untreated mental health conditions can lead to devastating consequences.
Foster’s story is a tragic reminder of the importance of early intervention, mental health treatment, and keeping dangerous individuals off the streets.
As he serves his 18-year sentence for the murder of Jessica Miller, Foster’s violent past continues to haunt the lives of those he has hurt.
The justice system, while holding him accountable for his crimes, also raises questions about how to better prevent future violence from those who struggle with severe mental health issues.
The case serves as a painful lesson about the intersection of mental illness and criminal behavior, and the need for better care and intervention for those at risk of harming others.
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Archer Bannister is a journalist with 4 years of experience covering hard-hitting stories. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Archer specializes in delivering timely and in-depth updates on a variety of topics, including crime news, politics, and national issues affecting the USA. His expertise and dedication to delivering accurate, impactful news make him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to stay informed on critical topics.
