Transgender Woman That Fatally Stabbed USPS Worker And Father, Accepts 15-Year Plea Deal!

A 24 year old transgender woman has pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter as part of a plea deal following the tragic stabbing of a United States Postal Service worker!

Jaia Cruz has accepted a proposed plea deal including fifteen years in state prison and five years supervised released for the tragic murder of 36 year old Ray Hodge, reads a statement from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

As we previously reported the fatal incident took place earlier this year on Thursday (January 2nd) following a dispute in a Harlem Deli located on Lenox Avenue between West 118^th and West 119^th Street around 2:30PM over who was next in line. A deli worker told local news that Jaia became uncontrollably angry and spat at Ray as the two argued. The father of two is said to have hurled a bottle of lemon juice at Jaia in response and she proceeded to stab him multiple times in his chest, neck and arms.

Sadly, Ray was rushed to Harlem Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries soon after. Sources state Jaia fled the scene, returning to her apartment building where she was ultimately arrested.

According to CBS News, Jaia is scheduled for official sentencing next month on Wednesday (May 28th).

“In 15 years, her life goes on. Ray Hodge III, dead. Gone. Not coming back. So I have a problem with that,” said Ray’s mother Ada Rice said in response to Jaia’s plea deal. Ray’s family has stated that they were hopeful that she would receive a longer sentencing.