New Rochelle Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Stabbing Boyfriend

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle woman who was accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Jonitha Alston, 30, of Winthrop Avenue, was arraigned in the murder of Dennis Graham.

She was charged with the following:

• Second-degree murder, a felony
• Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor
• Endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor

Scarpino said, on Dec. 29, 2016, around 6:37 p.m., Alston knocked on the door of a former neighbor’s home and used the neighbor’s phone to call 911.

Police arrived to find her with her 5-year-old daughter, both of whom were taken to New Rochelle Police Headquarters.

She told the officers she was having an anxiety attack and needed medical attention and was taken to the hospital.

Around the time Alston was calling 911, New Rochelle police received reports of a man with multiple stab wounds to the chest at 138 Winthrop Ave.

Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene to find Graham, 60, sitting in a chair on the curb with stab wounds to the front of his torso.

He was taken to Jacobi Medical Center where he died in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, 2016.

An autopsy found Graham had been stabbed seven times.

A police investigation revealed Alston stabbed Graham inside the apartment they shared. Alston’s daughter was present at the time of the stabbing.

Alston remains in jail and faces 25 years to life in state prison if convicted.

Her next court appearance is March 22, 2017.

Photo caption: Jonitha Alston. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.