Crown Heights Husband Indicted For Strangling Wife: Brooklyn DA

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The Crown Heights man who strangled his wife as her infant daughter cried alone in their hallway has been indicted on murder charges, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office announced.

Barry Wells, 29, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Thursday for murdering his 22-year-old wife Tonie in their brownstone at 1172 Sterling Place on the morning of Dec. 27, prosecutors said.

Wells and his wife began arguing around 8:30 a.m. and, when things got heated, Wells locked the 21-month-old girl out of the first floor apartment, leaving her in the building’s hallway, prosecutors said.

Tonie Wells’ sister called 911 to report her sister’s abuser, but two police officers who were supposed to check on the young mother never got out their car, according to reports. The officers were later suspended.

Emergency responders were finally summoned by another resident who found the toddler alone in the hallway, prosecutors said.

The neighbor went inside the apartment to check on the Wellses and found Tonie lying unconscious on the basement and Barry gone, prosecutors said.

The young mother was pronounced dead in her home and the Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxiation and compression of the neck, prosecutors said.

Investigators captured Wells in New Rochelle the same day and charged him with aggravated family offense and criminal contempt, and later, murder, prosecutors said.

The Crown Heights man was held without bail on Thursday and is expected to return to court on March 14, prosecutors said.

Wells faces 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, said prosecutors.

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