THE BRONX — A 25-year-old man was found dead in his Mott Haven apartment from a stab wound early Saturday, while his wife, who neighbors said was the brunt of his frequent physical attacks, was in police custody awaiting charges, cops said.
Chrystal Muse-Mojica, 26, was arrested Saturday after police responded to a call at 4:40 a.m. at 578 East 141st St., from the third-floor apartment she shared with Christopher Muse, 25, reporting a male shot.
When they arrived, however, Muse was found with one stab wound to his torso, police said. He was rushed by ambulance to Lincoln Hospital, but declared dead upon arrival.
Neighbors said the couple had been in the building for a few years, and that they were raising three children together. Many also said it was obvious the Muse-Mojica had been physically abused on several occasions.
"He was always hitting her about, but he was good to his kids," said neighbor Joey Marino, 45, who guessed, "I think she just had enough." Marino said the couple had two girls and a boy, and originally had moved from Virginia.
Marino said Muse-Mojica often wore large dark glasses, and had visible bruises on her body.
"He was a good dad, but a bad husband," he added. He said he thought that Muse had a drug problem. Marino told DNAinfo.com New York that the children had been taken into custody by social services following the incident.
Police said Muse-Mojica had been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Erica, 21, who lived on the same floor, but did not want her last name used, the couple's noisy fights were unavoidable.
"I used to see them yelling in the street at each other," she said.
