Special Needs Teacher Found Bludgeoned To Death

The building where Hawes was found (Google Maps).

Last night, the in-laws of Tara Hawes, a 33-year-old teacher who worked with special needs children at the Aaron School in Manhattan, made a grisly discovery. After not having heard from their son or daughter-in-law for two days they went to the Astoria apartment they shared and found Hawes lifeless body lying in bed. Initially there was so much blood pooled around her they thought her throat had been slashed.

After further examination, however, police determined that Hawes had been killed by blunt force trauma to the head, the NYPD tells us. She was declared dead at the scene.

Police are now seeking Hawes husband, who has not been identified, for questioning. According to the building's super, Hawes' husband was seen going in and out of their apartment yesterday sometime before 2 p.m. Her body was discovered at 8:30 p.m., though it is currently unclear when she died.

"All the time you hear them yelling," the super told the Post. "He seemed controlling."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in News on February 3, 2012 5:35 PM

Comments [rss]

schmeep

Terrible. Also, I read the headline and thought that the teacher had special needs.

theevilerone

Damn, that is sad. Rest in peace, Tara Hawes.

Why does it always seem the way that a person who has the patience and kindness to teach special needs kids, and who will actually be missed, are the ones to go, and the shitstains like the person who killed her is the one to live. Such a damn, damn, shame.

RobertMosesSupposesErroneously

Wow, that's just 4 blocks north of my house. Thought this was a pretty peaceful neighborhood.

Spirit of 76

Why won't the police release her husband's name or photograph? We can't keep an eye out for him if we don't know what he looks like.

Steven

innocent until proven guilty.

Spirit of 76

Wrong. Police release descriptions of suspects all the time, and as ocm123 wrote above, finally did in this case. Or maybe you'd like them to take down all of the wanted posters in the post offices and elsewhere.