A man she had hired during a dispute over $300 beat a 64-year-old woman to death outside her Queens home, according to police on Friday.
The concrete steps still had dried blood on them on Friday morning.
Neighbor Navin Persaud, 45, expressed his deep concern and fear over the incident, stating, “Having something like this happen is truly terrifying. She was a good lady, and I have never witnessed anything negative going on.”
When Persaud arrived home from work on Thursday, he was met with a scene of police surrounding Kashidas-Singh’s house. To his horror, he noticed a lifeless body lying on the steps.
“I was taken aback. I had a burning curiosity to uncover the identity of the individual,” he reminisced. “Initially, I presumed someone had simply fainted or stumbled, but the police revealed that she had been ruthlessly murdered.”
Francisco Sevilla, a 40-year-old man, was swiftly apprehended by the police at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday. He has been charged with murder and possession of weapons.
According to neighbors, Kashidas-Singh used to run a landscaping business called J and H Landscaping alongside her husband. However, they have recently gone their separate ways.
According to a 24-year-old neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous, the woman who was attacked was known for her kindness and loving nature. The neighbor remembers having long conversations with her and expresses sadness over what happened to her.
Just like Persaud, the neighbor was unaware of what had occurred until she heard the sound of the ambulance and went outside to witness the body lying on the stairs.
“We used to have conversations on the stairs during the summertime. Our backyard would transform into a beautiful garden, and I would often bring things over to her,” she reminisced with a warm smile. “She was truly a delightful lady, and I can’t recall a single instance where she had any issues with anyone.”
According to a police source familiar with the case, Kashidas-Singh had enlisted the services of Sevilla for a particular task. However, a disagreement arose between the two individuals regarding an amount of $300 that the suspect believed was owed to him.
According to sources, Sevilla was apprehended while under the influence. The exact substances he had consumed at the time remain unknown.
The suspected murderer resided in Queens, only seven blocks away from Kashidas-Singh, according to the police. Neighbors reveal that he shared an apartment with his father.
“He was quite the handyman,” neighbor John Moscatiello reminisced. “You would never expect him to do something like that. He’s such a kind-hearted person, always planting flowers for the landlord and shoveling snow.”
The arraignment of the defendant is still pending in Queens Criminal Court as of Friday.
