By Ivan Pereira
Nearby residents of a quiet South Ozone Park block said they were shocked Saturday night when the police discovered that one of their new neighbors, who was nine months pregnant, was stabbed to death.
Niasha Delain’s mother and boyfriend discovered her body around 7:41 p.m., after her mom got worried because she had not heard from the 25−year−old in days, police said. Delain had moved into the first floor apartment at 109−57 Lefferts Blvd. within the last month, according to neighbors.
“We’ve never had anything like this happen before,” said Feroz Khan, who lived in the room upstairs above Delain.
Khan said he was at work when the police arrived at the apartment and was stunned to learn the mother−to−be was murdered. He said she was quiet and did not have contact with the rest of the building tenants or nearby grocery stores.
“She moved in recently and there was never any trouble,” he said.
No suspects have been named and there were no arrests as of press time Tuesday. The investigation was ongoing.
Delain’s family could not be reached for comment.
Police said Delain was nine months pregnant and was found in the apartment with stab wounds to her belly. EMS crews pronounced her dead at the scene of the crime.
A spokeswoman from the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office said the autopsy on the body conducted Sunday but did not reveal when she was killed. The spokeswoman said the fetus also died.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said there were no signs of forced entry and nearby homeowners said they heard nothing unusual Saturday until the police arrived at the scene.
Bars on one of the building’s rear windows appeared to have been removed and that window was open.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1−800−577−TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e−mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 146.
