New details have emerged in the July 14 murder of Vianell Garcia. The 44-year-old woman was the victim of being pushed off a hill in Washington Heights and then murdered by her 22-year-old son, Miguel Duval.
The East Harlem community, where Garcia ran a salon for many years, is heartbroken by this senseless murder. “Vianelle was a community leader in Harlem and did my beautiful hair for many years and was a regular at her nail salon in NYC,” Kristin Davis wrote on Facebook. “We were only a few doors down from each other and she helped me out so many times. I am heartbroken by her tragic passing. Please pray for her family.”
A GoFundMe campaign started by Janie Garcia had raised more than $17,000 from about 300 donors by noon on July 26 to cover funeral expenses for the beloved salon owner.
Police said Garcia initially visited his son at a homeless shelter in Washington Heights and noticed his son’s hand was bleeding, urging him to go to the emergency room.
Duvall allegedly said he was hungry and wanted to eat before focusing on other things. The two went to get food together and then went to Fort Washington Park, near 165th Street and Riverside Drive. According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney, around 4:15 p.m., their conversation quickly went awry and a witness reported falling onto a grassy bank near where the two were sitting to eat and talk and hearing Garcia scream.
Garcia’s screams were reportedly quickly drowned out as her son picked up a stick and a rock and beat her unconscious. 911 was called and paramedics arrived and removed her from the bank before rushing her to Harlem Hospital, where she died from head injuries. Initially, it was reported that the injuries that caused her death were from falling down the bank, but it is now reported that they were concurrent with the brutal beating.
Duvall ran back up the embankment and back into the street, where he was found bloody and covered in scratches. Witnesses called 911. Duvall was arrested at the scene. NYPD’s Kenney said Duvall claimed his actions were motivated by family problems and a history of abuse.
Duvall was receiving psychiatric treatment at a hospital near the shelter he was living in, and former neighbors said he appeared to be suffering from some sort of mental illness.
The mother and son had previously lived together in Harlem.
Garcia was well known in her East Harlem neighborhood for her longtime salon, Vianelle Beauty Salon, where countless New Yorkers would come to get their hair done. Friends, family and clients were seen mourning her death around East Harlem, with an altar of flowers and candles placed outside the salon.
