Bedford Park man charged in student's murder
By David Greene
NEW YORK, Dec.15- Police have charged a Bedford Park man in connection with the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, inside her East Harlem apartment.
Police were called to the home of Rita Morrelli, 36, a student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and part time waitress from Italy, who was discovered with two stab wounds to her chest and her throat was also slashed, inside the apartment on E. 120 Street in Harlem, on December 7.
Detectives say an anonymous call to 9-1-1 from a Bronx pay phone, led to the suspect Bakary Camara of Valentine Avenue. Police reportedly entered Camara's apartment, where the suspect was attempting suicide by stabbing himself in his stomach.
Camara reportedly told the 9-11 operator, "By now you've found the body on E. 120 Street. When you find my dead body, you will find a note in my pocket explaining everything."
BMCC issued a statement regarding the woman's death that read in part, "It's a tragedy for her, for the school and for the City of New York."
The building's super, who declined to be identified, stated that Camara had moved into the building four or five months ago. The super recalled, "I didn't know him that well. He was a quiet guy and was always alone."
The super added, "Anything like this is going to surprise you when it happens... you never think that things can happen, but they do."
Camara has been charged with second-degree murder.