Story by Ethan
On August 12th, 2025, the arrest of Audwin Caines, age 62, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Audwin Caines was charged with eight counts of second-degree Murder, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Assault fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and fourth-degree Criminal Mischief. The arrest and charges against Audwin Caines were a result of an investigation handled by Detective Daniel Connors of the 113th Detective Squad, and Detective James Zozzaro of the Queens South Homicide Squad.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, on July 21st, 2024, Audwin Caines allegedly stabbed his estranged wife Chaniel Ramsey with a broken glass bottle in her chest and elbow. The two individuals shared a residence on Irwin Place at that time when an argument ensued after Audwin Caines asked Chaniel Ramsey to leave. Allegedly the defendant hit Chaniel Ramsey on her head with a bottle of alcohol which knocked her to the floor before stabbing her with the broken glass from the bottle. Audwin Caines had previously been able to elude his arrest for this alleged incident.
At approximately 12:21 p.m. on June 23rd, 2025, Chaniel Ramsey had her Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in front of 123-40 Irwin Place in St. Adams, New York. While the vehicle was unattended a brick was smashed through the front passenger window which shattered it. Approximately a few minutes later Chaniel Ramsey received a text message with a picture of the broken window of her car and several threats of physical harm and assault. The text messages were allegedly sent to her by Audwin Caines. Later the same day at approximately 2:30 p.m. the defendant, while armed, allegedly approached Chaniel Ramsey and their 21-year-old daughter on 176th Street in St. Albans, New York. Both Chaniel Ramsey and the daughter began to run away from Audwin Caines before he allegedly began to fire shots in their direction. Both victims attempted to hide behind a parked car on 127th Street before Chaniel Ramsey stood up and ran away from the vehicle in an attempt to direct the defendant’s attention away from the daughter’s location. Allegedly Audwin Caines fired several shots at Chaniel Ramsey at point-blank range, bullets striking her in the head and chest which caused her death.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Audwin Caines are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
