Benchwatch
All cases
Murder in Queens, New York, March 22, 2024

Lelawattie Narine, 52

Cancer survivor who had recently completed chemotherapy. Walking near 114th Street and Liberty Avenue in Queens as advised by her doctors when struck by Bohler's motorcycle.

Released by a judgeUS citizen
  1. Original charge
    Cumulative releases on prior felony arrests
    December 1, 2023
  2. Released
    Multiple pretrial releases over years
    March 1, 2024
  3. 21 days later
    Murder
    March 22, 2024

What happened

Bohler allegedly struck Lelawattie Narine with his motorcycle around 8:30 p.m. on March 22 2024 and fled. Narine, a 52-year-old cancer survivor walking as advised by her doctors, was killed. Bohler was charged retrospectively in October 2025 while already on Rikers Island for a separate machete attack on a dog owner.

The release decision

On December 1, 2023, Timothy Bohler was charged with cumulative releases on prior felony arrests. Various NYC Court Judges Multiple NY Judges (Pending Full Identification) ordered the release on March 1, 2024. Terms: multiple pretrial releases over years. Prosecutors had asked for detention. The defendant had 45 prior arrests at the time.

The defendant's record

45 prior arrests including rape, assault, robbery, and threatening to decapitate a dog. Separately charged in 2025 for cutting off a dog owner's fingers with a machete.

Sources