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Police Arrest Man for Murdering Bronx Woman, Trying to Burn Down Home

By Eddie Small | April 13, 2017 2:11pm

WAKEFIELD — Police have arrested a New Jersey man for murdering a 69-year-old Bronx woman and trying to burn down her house.

The victim, Lilawatee Ramsaran, was found lying on the living room floor with multiple stab wounds to her back inside her residence at 886 Cranford Ave. on Oct. 9 around 9:30 p.m., police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said on Wednesday that 36-year-old Nakia Bent, of Kearney, New Jersey, had been arrested and charged with her murder. He has multiple priors, including charges of criminal contempt and assault, police said.

Bent also disconnected a natural gas line in her house and lit candles, in an attempt to blow up the home and the evidence, prosecutors charge.

Bent was indicted on murder charges Wednesday and remanded, and he is due back in court on July 14, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.

His motive for the crime is still unclear.

Bent pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, according to his lawyer Martin Galvin.