A 55-year-old woman seeking medical treatment at a Bronx hospital died after being brutally beaten by her roommate while she slept, in what authorities have now classified as a homicide. Cynthia Vann was receiving treatment for liver complications at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Mott Haven section when the attack occurred around 3 a.m. on September 10, 2025.
According to law enforcement sources, Racquel Haughton, 44, allegedly punched Vann multiple times in the head while the victim was asleep in her hospital bed. Vann woke up to the repeated blows and required immediate intubation in the intensive care unit. She underwent emergency surgery for bleeding on the brain but remained in critical condition for 17 days before succumbing to her injuries on September 27, 2025.
The city medical examiner determined Vann died from blunt force trauma to the head and ruled her death a homicide. The case has exposed significant gaps in hospital security protocols and communication with law enforcement agencies.
Hospital police at Lincoln conducted their own investigation and arrested Haughton without involving the NYPD initially. However, Bronx prosecutors declined to pursue charges at the time, apparently because Vann was too sick to be interviewed and no witnesses saw the assault. Haughton was subsequently released and is currently at large.
The Bronx District Attorney’s office confirmed the case was deferred on September 12 for prosecution pending further investigation and evidence. After Vann died and her death was ruled a homicide, prosecutors began investigating the case as a murder. The suspect had two prior cases involving attacks on healthcare workers, according to the district attorney’s office.
Law enforcement sources revealed Haughton allegedly attacked a nurse at the hospital in July and assaulted a patient care associate on September 11, the day after the fatal beating. In the September 11 incident, Haughton allegedly slapped the patient care associate and asked why they had squeezed her hand so hard. She was arrested and charged in both incidents but released without bail for the July attack.
When brought to central booking for arraignment in the September 11 assault, Haughton allegedly assaulted a fellow inmate. These cases remain pending in the court system.
The NYPD was not notified of the original assault until September 20, ten days after it occurred. When detectives initially contacted hospital staff about the incident, they claimed to know nothing about it. However, during subsequent formal interviews, staff members revealed they had heard screaming from Vann’s room.
Vann’s daughter, Taneisha Vann, 34, told News 12 that hospital staff informed the family that Haughton had a known history of violent behavior. The younger woman expressed her devastation over losing her mother, describing her as “my support system.” She indicated her mother told staff that her roommate had hit her in the head, but the roommate denied the allegation, prompting staff to move Vann to another room.
Taneisha Vann met with Lewis Marshall, Lincoln’s chief medical officer, on September 19 to seek answers about her mother’s case. She reported that Marshall took down her questions and promised to respond but failed to follow through. The family has expressed frustration with what they perceive as the hospital’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Vann, who lived in the Concourse Village section of the Bronx, was well-known in her Sherman Avenue neighborhood for maintaining a community garden. She had been admitted to the hospital for treatment of what her family described as a recurring but treatable condition. Her daughter noted that the family fully expected Vann to recover and return home.
The timing of the tragedy has been particularly difficult for the family, as Vann would have celebrated her 56th birthday on October 9. Instead of planning a birthday celebration, her daughter is now organizing funeral arrangements.
Reverend Kevin McCall, who is advising the family, has called for a full investigation from the district attorney’s office. He has criticized the hospital for what he characterized as negligence in Vann’s care and demanded accountability for the circumstances that led to her death.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln has declined to answer specific questions about the incident or explain why a patient with a documented history of violence was placed in a shared room. The hospital has only provided a brief statement affirming its commitment to the safety of patients, staff and visitors.
The NYPD continues to search for Haughton, who remains at large. Authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest in connection with Vann’s death. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to apprehend the suspect.