A 50-year-old man in New York is accused of killing his 48-year-old wife last year, allegedly beating her with such ferocity that he crushed her brain stem. Jose Lequerica was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder in the brutal November 2024 slaying of Asli Ak, authorities announced.

Officers with the NYPD 115th Precinct on Tuesday placed Lequerica under arrest at his home on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. He then appeared for his arraignment before Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis, where he formally pleaded not guilty.

According to a news release from the Queens County District Attorney”s Office, the fatal attack on Ak took place at the couple’s home in the late evening hours of Nov. 15, 2024. During the assault, authorities say Lequerica “repeatedly struck his wife on her face, head and body” while in their bedroom.

Lequerica then left their home for about two hours. When he returned, he did not bother to check on the condition of his wife and instead he chose to fall asleep on the couch.

The following morning, prosecutors say Lequerica at about 10:45 a.m. went into the bedroom and found his wife unconscious on the floor. Rather than calling for medical assistance, he allegedly left Ak to suffer on the ground for more than seven hours, finally calling 911 at about 6:22 p.m., per the release.

Emergency medical personnel responded to the couple’s apartment and rushed the victim to nearby Elmhurst Hospital for treatment. Ak had suffered “severe bruising to her face, head, and body” and never recovered from her injuries. She was ultimately declared brain-dead on Nov. 20, 2024.

The medical examiner conducted an autopsy and determined that Ak’s manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was “blunt force trauma to the head.”

“The autopsy revealed that she had severe head injuries including a hematoma that caused swelling inside the head, crushing her brain stem,” the release states.

Lequercia is being held without bail and is currently scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 12.

“Domestic violence is a plague in our communities that must be rooted out at the core,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “The defendant is accused of intentionally killing his wife through blunt force trauma and allegedly waiting over seven hours to call 911 after finding her unconscious. Far too often, victims are made to feel isolated and alone, leading to heartbreaking results. Please know that there are resources available to help you safely escape a dangerous domestic situation. My thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends as we seek to hold the defendant responsible.”

A GoFundMe page started by Ak’s brother said she touched many lives and was “lost too soon.”

“From her days as a teacher to her time with children as a nanny, Asli touched the hearts of many,” the page states. “She later became a greatly successful real estate broker, and even though her dream of owning her own real estate agency remained unrealized, her contributions were generous and many.”