Police investigating possible motive in killing of woman found in bag on NYC street

KIPS BAY, Manhattan (PIX11) – New details surrounding the death of a woman found in a bag on a Manhattan street were revealed Tuesday, including a possible motive for her killing that police are investigating.

The body of 31-year-old Yazmeen Williams was found inside a sleeping bag left among garbage bags on the street at 207 East 27th St. between Third and Second avenues in Kips Bay on Friday, according to the NYPD.

Williams had been fatally shot in the head, police said. She was last seen alive on June 23, according to police.

Surveillance video showed a man in a wheelchair using a dolly to haul Williams’ body to the spot on East 27th Street where she was found dead, police said.

NYPD detectives used the surveillance video to track the suspect back to the nearby Straus Houses, according to police. On Monday, that’s where police arrested 55-year-old Chad Irish, who’s been charged with concealment of a human corpse, authorities said.

Williams and Irish knew each other, according to police. She stayed with Irish at times at the Straus Houses, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

“I’m not sure if their relationship was romantic or if it was more convenient. She would just stay with him. I’m sure there was some narcotics arrangement involved,” Kenny said.

The NYPD chief said police learned from witnesses and family members that Williams may have recently began taking drugs. Irish has a history of drug possession, according to Kenny.

NYPD detectives are investigating whether the motive behind the killing of Williams was drug-related, police said.

Kenny said he believes Williams was killed in Irish’s apartment in the Straus Houses.

“We’re getting search warrants for his apartment. We’re trying to find that gun. We’re doing what we normally do to try to tie him to this murder,” Kenny said.

Kenny also spoke about the people from the community who confronted Irish in the neighborhood on Monday prior to his arrest.

“Several people from the neighborhood were quite angry with Mr. Irish over this incident and they surrounded him,” Kenny said.

Irish allegedly threatened the group with a gun, Kenny said.

“[Irish] then fled the location back to his apartment where he was placed under arrest by detectives and patrol,” Kenny said.

Irish was stormed by a crowd of angry neighbors as he was taken into custody, video of the incident showed. Police and medics had to shield him from the crowd as he was taken away on a stretcher.

“They more or less surrounded him like a mob and started to attack him,” said witness Ted Oehmke.

Community mourns death of Yazmeen Williams

A memorial in honor of Williams has been placed where her body was found in Kips Bay. The memorial includes flowers, candles and notes from people who knew her.

Williams was known in the community as someone who would help people. She graduated from Buffalo State University and was about to begin a new job at the New York City Housing Authority.

“It makes it even more tragic someone young and bright as she was to help people and this is how it ended. It’s very sad,” said Michael Quinn, a longtime Kips Bay resident.

Williams had a twin brother and an 8-year-old sister, according to her family.

“She’s sweet. She’s a nice person and she grew up here. We don’t know why someone would have a motive to do something to her,” Williams’ aunt, Nisha Ramirez, said.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here .

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