Woman accused of Stabbing postal Worker, Jaia Cruz has a history of knife violence
Jaia Cruz, 24, was being held without bail after her arraignment in the killing of letter carrier Ray Hodge. A message seeking comment was left for Cruz's lawyer.
Hodge, 36, was stabbed in the chest, neck and arms Thursday afternoon at a Harlem deli, according to a court complaint. Police found him wounded on the floor in his postal uniform.
Hodges, who lived in the Bronx and worked in Manhattan, died from his injuries after the attack, according to the NYPD.
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| Jaia Cruz is charged with Hodges' murder. |
Jaia Cruz, a 24-year-old woman from Manhattan, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for stabbing a USPS worker in New York City on Thursday. Cruz allegedly stabbed Ray Hodges, a 36-year-old man from the Bronx who worked as a letter carrier in Manhattan. Hodges was taken to the hospital after the stabbing but did not survive.
The US Postal Service released a statement saying that Ray Hodges had been working for them since July 2022. The statement, issued by spokesperson Michael Martel, emphasized the importance of employee safety and said they are working with the NYPD on the investigation. They did not provide further details to protect the investigation's integrity.
The NYPD has not yet revealed the motive behind the stabbing or the connection between Cruz and Hodges. It is also unclear if Cruz has posted bond or obtained an attorney.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Hodge was a letter carrier assigned to Manhattan.
Neighbors created a memorial outside his Bronx home Friday, placing candles around his postal hat.
In July 2020, Cruz was caught waving an open box cutter at another person in Midtown West and shouting, “I’m going to cut him,” sources said. Cruz was ordered to get on the ground but refused.
Cruz was ordered to get on the ground, but refused. She was then pulled away by officers and busted for resisting arrest.
Just two weeks later, Cruz was arrested again for a 4:30 a.m. tag-team robbery — she and another individual used knives to steal a man’s phone and wallet after the victim invited the pair to “hang out.”
The repeat offender — who has been described by cops as a transgendered woman — now faces murder charges for the brutal knifing of Ray Hodges, an on-duty USPS letter carrier who was grabbing lunch at the deli at 168 Lenox Ave.
| The incident has raised concerns about safety in the community, with residents expressing fear and calling for action to address violence in the area. |
