A Genesee County Grand Jury has indicted Makeen Ithna-Asheri, 61, of Batavia, NY, accusing him of manslaughter second degree, a class C felony, after allegedly failing to help his wife or call for assistance while she was overdosing on drugs on December 30, 2021, in the City of Batavia.
Ithna-Asheri is accused of recklessly causing the death of his wife. He is accused of providing his wife with drugs that caused her to overdose and knowing that she overdosed, he failed to administer proper aid. Additionally, Ithna-Asheri allegedly prevented the notification of emergency services by taking the children’s phone away when they wanted to call 911.
Ithna-Asheri is also facing two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree after knowingly and unlawfully possessing a controlled substance, cocaine.
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Press release
On Thursday, December 30th, 2021 around 9:32 PM, the Batavia Police Department received a third-party phone call that two adults had overdosed in the presence of their young children at an apartment at Northside Meadows.
The Batavia Police Department responded along with the Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS.
Upon arrival, the mother of the children, Anda Ithna-Asheri (38), was found to have been deceased for some time. The father, Makeen Ithna-Asheri (61), was unresponsive with agonal breathing. Multiple doses of Narcan were administered and Makeen was transported to UMMC where he later recovered. The children, ages seven and ten, were released to the custody of a relative.
Following an investigation by the Batavia Police Department, Makeen Ithna-Asheri was arrested on January 4th, 2022 around 2:33 PM by Detective Jason Ivison. Makeen is charged with manslaughter in the 2nd degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Makeen is accused of providing Anda with the drugs which caused her to overdose and knowing that she overdosed, he failed to administer proper aid. Additionally, Makeen allegedly prevented the notification of emergency services by taking the children’s phone away when they wanted to call 911.
Upon being taken into custody, Makeen was found to be in possession of a quantity of suspected crack cocaine and was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. Makeen is on lifetime parole for Murder in the 2nd degree and is currently being held in Genesee County Jail on $50k bail, $100k bond, and $150k partially secured bond. Makeen is also being held on a parole warrant.
He is scheduled to reappear in court on February 2nd, 2022 at 1:00 PM.
The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the Genesee County 911 Center, City of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Genesee County Department of Social Services, Genesee County Child Advocacy Center, Genesee County Coroner’s Office, Genesee County District Attorney’s Office, and NYS Parole for their assistance in this case.
Arrest Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 – 2:33pm Reference ID: 2021-20867 Charges: PL 125.15-1 – Manslaughter 2nd PL 260.10-1 – Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2 Counts) PL 220.03 – Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 7th