A homeless man whose roommate stabbed him to death in a state-funded facility in Harlem lay in the morgue for six days, as his loving family desperately tried to find him.
Even though cops and other officials had his name, his cellphone and other possessions, Villard Joseph’s family only found out about his death days after the death from a news article.
“I need answers about what happened to my brother in that place,” Joseph’s sister Terri Davis, 48, told the Daily News. “He lay in that morgue for a week and no one thought to search that he did have a family who loved him.”
Joseph, 44, known to loved ones as “Toto,” had been living in the Cecil Ivory transitional housing facility on W. 132nd St. near Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. for about 11 months when he was attacked early May 12, 2017 by his roommate, Devon Christie, 39.
The facility is run by BRC, the same organization that runs the city-funded Boulevard Homeless Shelter in East Harlem, where teacher Deven Black was murdered last year.
Christie – a diagnosed schizophrenic who has since been charged with murder – stabbed Joseph repeatedly in the head and torso.
Christie then stabbed himself in the neck. He remains hospitalized, cops said, and has yet to be arraigned.
Joseph died at the scene due to multiple head and neck wounds. His blood-soaked cellphone was found near his hand, suggesting he was trying to reach out for help.
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
