D.A. Bragg Announces Indictments in Brutal Murder of 74-Year-Old Maria Hernandez


February 21, 2023

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced today the indictments of LASHAWN MACKEY, 47, and TERRENCE MOORE, 53, for the January murder of 74-year-old Maria Hernandez, who was found dead in her Upper West Side apartment with her hands and feet bound together behind her back. MACKEY and MOORE are charged in a New York Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Burglary in the First Degree, one count Robbery in the First Degree, and one count of Burglary in the Second Degree. [1]
 
“This was a brutal and callous murder that no family should ever have to experience. My thoughts are with Ms. Hernandez’s loved ones as they continue to grieve and recover from their loss,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I thank the prosecutors in my office for quickly building this case and continuing to steadfastly uncover every piece of evidence.”
 
According to court documents and statements made on the record, MACKEY worked as a temporary superintendent at Ms. Hernandez’s apartment between May and August of 2022.
 
On January 18th, MACKEY and MOORE allegedly entered the apartment building together. They forced open the doors to the superintendent’s office and tore a bolt lock away. They cut the electrical wires to the surveillance video system and took the system itself away.  

Responding NYPD officers found her in the apartment lying face down on the floor covered in strewn clothing, with bruises and lacerations across her body. Her hands and feet were bound together with rope. 

MACKEY and MOORE left the building with two rolling bags that belonged to Ms. Hernandez. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Maxine Rosenthal and Juan Maldonado, under the supervision of Jeffrey Levinson (Chief of Trial Bureau 80) and Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked NYPD Sargent Eloise Walter and Detectives Rachel Lutz, Timothy Kraft and Christopher French.  
 
DEFENDANT INFORMATION
LASHAWN MACKEY
Brooklyn, New York

Charged:

  • Murder in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
  • Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count

TERRENCE MOORE
Brooklyn, New York

Charged:

  • Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
  • Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
  • Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.