September 16, 2025 BROOKLYN, NY — A tranquil Sunday evening at a Coney Island nursing home turned into a scene of horror after a 95-year-old resident allegedly bludgeoned a fellow patient to death. The shocking incident, which unfolded late Sunday night, has left the community reeling and raised critical questions about the intersection of elder care, mental health, and violence.
Police sources say the fatal attack occurred around 10:04 p.m. on September 14 at the Seagate Rehab Nursing Home on West 29th Street. Detectives from the 60th Precinct were called to the facility after an altercation between two elderly women escalated with deadly consequences.
According to a preliminary investigation, a 95-year-old woman, who reportedly suffers from severe dementia, got into an argument with 89-year-old Nina Kracstov. The verbal dispute quickly became physical when the nonagenarian grabbed a metal object, believed to be part of a wheelchair, and repeatedly struck Kracstov in the head.
Emergency Medical Services rushed Kracstov to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The 95-year-old woman was taken to Coney Island Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Sources close to the investigation believe the suspect's severe dementia was a significant factor in the violent outburst. The case has sparked a complex legal and ethical debate over whether a person with such a debilitating condition can be held criminally responsible for their actions.
