A man was arrested Friday in connection with the brutal beating of a 44-year-old woman who was attacked while cycling home from work on Randall’s Island last week, police said.
Miguel Jiraud, 30, was taken into custody shortly before 8:30 a.m. on May 23 and later charged with attempted murder, according to the NYPD.
Jiraud was reportedly living at a homeless shelter on Randall’s Island at the time of the May 16 assault on Diana Agudelo, a museum employee and mother of two. The attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. near the waste treatment plant at 600 E. 125th St., police said.
Agudelo was discovered unconscious and unresponsive along the bike path, suffering from severe injuries to her head and face. She remains hospitalized and in critical condition following multiple emergency surgeries.
“Earlier this week, we had a horrific assault on a woman on Randall’s Island,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Friday press conference. “She received immediate medical attention and is currently in the hospital fighting for her life. We had a very aggressive investigation, and we have identified a person we believe to be responsible for that assault.”
Agudelo’s daughter, Stephanie Rodas, previously told ABC 7 that her mother was taking her usual route home when the attack occurred. She added that her mother’s e-bike was also stolen.
According to the New York Post, Jiraud was on parole for a prior rape conviction and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the May 16 attack. The NYPD did not confirm those details to amNewYork.
In the days following the assault, Agudelo’s colleagues at the Museum of the City of New York launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support her family and cover mounting medical expenses. By Friday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised nearly $40,000.
“This unexpected situation has placed a heavy burden on her family,” museum colleague Mariecruz Nazario wrote. “Diana is a devoted mother, and her household now faces significant challenges, including medical and living expenses.”
