A 55-year-old woman died at a hospital in the Bronx, New York, after being attacked by her roommate while she was sleeping, an incident authorities have classified as a homicide. Cynthia Vann was undergoing treatment for liver issues at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Mott Haven area when the attack took place at approximately 3 a.m. on September 10, 2025.
Law enforcement sources stated that Racquel Haughton, 44, allegedly assaulted Vann by punching her in the head multiple times while she was asleep. Vann awoke to the assault and required immediate intubation in the intensive care unit. Despite undergoing emergency brain surgery, she remained in critical condition for 17 days, ultimately passing away on September 27, 2025.
The city medical examiner concluded that Vann died from blunt force trauma to the head, officially ruling her death a homicide. This incident has highlighted significant issues in hospital security and communication with law enforcement.
Hospital police at Lincoln conducted their investigation, arresting Haughton without initially notifying the NYPD. However, Bronx prosecutors opted not to pursue charges at that time, reportedly due to Vann’s inability to be interviewed and the lack of eyewitnesses to the assault. Haughton was released and is currently at large. Haughton was again arrested on Oct. 20 and ordered held without bail on manslaughter and assault charges.
The Bronx District Attorney’s office confirmed that the case was set aside on September 12 for further investigation and evidence. After Vann’s death and the homicide ruling, prosecutors began considering the case as a murder. The suspect has two prior cases involving attacks on healthcare workers, according to the district attorney’s office.
According to law enforcement sources, Haughton allegedly attacked a nurse at the hospital in July and assaulted a patient care associate on September 11, the day after the fatal incident. In the September 11 event, Haughton allegedly slapped the associate and questioned why her hand was squeezed so hard. She was arrested and charged in both incidents but released without bail for the July attack.
While awaiting arraignment for the September 11 assault, Haughton allegedly attacked another inmate at central booking. These cases are still pending in the court system.
The NYPD was not informed of the original assault until September 20, ten days after it took place. When detectives initially reached out to hospital staff, they claimed they were unaware of the incident. However, in subsequent formal interviews, staff members disclosed hearing screams from Vann’s room.
Vann’s daughter, Taneisha Vann, 34, told News 12 that hospital staff mentioned Haughton’s known violent history. She expressed her devastation over her mother’s death, describing her as “my support system.” Taneisha stated her mother informed staff about being hit by her roommate, but the roommate denied it, leading to Vann’s relocation to another room.
Taneisha Vann met with Lewis Marshall, Lincoln’s chief medical officer, on September 19 to seek answers about her mother’s case. She reported that Marshall noted her questions and promised a response, but did not follow through. The family has expressed disappointment with what they see as the hospital’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Vann, a resident of the Concourse Village section of the Bronx, was known in her Sherman Avenue neighborhood for maintaining a community garden. She was admitted to the hospital for a recurring but treatable condition, and her family expected her recovery and return home.
The timing of the incident has been particularly difficult for the family, as Vann would have turned 56 on October 9. Instead of planning a birthday celebration, her daughter is organizing funeral arrangements.
Reverend Kevin McCall, who is advising the family, has called for a thorough investigation by the district attorney’s office. He has criticized the hospital for what he called negligence in Vann’s care and demanded accountability for the circumstances leading to her death.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln has declined to answer specific questions about the incident or explain the decision to place a patient with a history of violence in a shared room. The hospital has issued a brief statement affirming its commitment to patient, staff, and visitor safety.