Yonkers Man Admits Stabbing 68-Year-Old To Death In Her Home In Plea Deal

YONKERS, NY — A Yonkers man has admitted to the stabbing death of a senior citizen in her home, in a Westchester County courtroom.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that 24-year-old Deshawn Nunez, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony second-degree murder, for killing 68-year-old Renee Spencer in 2022.

Nunez is expected to be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Sept. 25, as part of a plea agreement.

SEE ALSO: Yonkers Man Admits Fatally Stabbing 68-Year-Old In Her Home: YPD

"Our hearts break for the family of Renee Spencer, who was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother," Cacace said. "The defendant has permanently robbed this grieving family of her warmth and companionship. This guilty plea now provides closure for a terrible chapter in their lives and will ensure that Mr. Nunez is held accountable for his depraved conduct."

According to prosecutors, in the late-night hours of Aug. 9, 2022, Nunez stabbed Spencer 17 times inside her Nepperhan Ave. apartment, killing her.

Yonkers police were called to the apartment on Nepperhan Ave. after receiving reports of a dead woman. First responders found an elderly woman on the floor dead and surrounded by blood spatter. The victim had sustained multiple stab wounds, according to investigators.

There was no one else present in the apartment.

Major Case Squad and Crime Scene Unit detectives headed up the investigation. They learned that the victim, later identified as Spencer, and Nunez, entered the building together that night.

Nunez left the building by himself approximately 90 minutes later, according to police.

One of Spencer's family members called building management to check in on her after not hearing from the elderly woman for days. This led to the discovery of the crime scene.

A day after the murder but before its discovery, patrol officers from the 3rd Precinct encountered Nunez loitering in the area of 372 Riverdale Ave. He was known to the officers and they had information that he had multiple active warrants and was violating a stay-away order of protection at the location.

The case was investigated by the Yonkers Police Department, and prosecuted by Investigations Division Chief John O’Rourke and Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Shumejda, of the Major Case Bureau.