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Drug Debt Fueled Fatal Stabbing by Son of Ex-Mayoral Aide, Prosecutors Say

By Jack D'Isidoro | February 2, 2016 5:10pm
 Khari and Rachel Noerdlinger in an undated photo.
Khari and Rachel Noerdlinger in an undated photo.
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Instagram Rachel Noerdlinger

HACKENSACK, NJ — The son of a former aide to Mayor Bill de Blasio stabbed another teen to death over the weekend in what New Jersey prosecutors said Tuesday was a dispute over drug money.

Khari Noerdlinger, 19, severed the femoral artery of Savion Lewallen, 16, after the younger teen  confronted him about an outstanding drug debt, according to reports.

Lewallen died Monday in Palisades General Hospital.

Police first reported Lewallen, of Spring Valley, and four other individuals had traveled to Edgewater, New Jersey to rob Noerdlinger, the son of Rachel Noerdlinger, former aid to de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray.

Noerdlinger’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, maintained his client was acting in self-defense.

"They were looking to kill him," the defense lawyer told the Daily News. "So for his trouble for trying to stay alive, Khari Noerdlinger is now being charged with manslaughter."

But prosecutors said his client was ready for the face off, and armed himself with knife prior to the meeting.

Noerdlinger later confessed the stabbing to a witness and changed his clothes and tampered with the crime scene, Bergen County prosecutors said.

Noerdlinger is also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and hindering. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held on $500,000 bail, though his attorney expects him to make bail either Tuesday or Wednesday.

The four individuals that accompanied Lewallen — Mirleny Tremols, 33, Richard Jean-Pierre, 18,  Calim Gaspard, 23,  and Kevensky Lubin, 18 — were charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Rachel Noerdlinger, stepped down from her position as chief of staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray in 2014 following a series personal controversies.