Nimzay Aponte’s Murderer, Raymond Dennis, Speaks Out

Raymond Dennis, the man charged with stabbing Nimzay Aponte in a Bronx park after she ignored his advances online, told law enforcement officials that he “smacked her on the ass,” but would not admit to killing her. His account of what happened in the moments leading up to Aponte’s death reflect someone who is not only unhinged, but also supports our idea that some people who visit hook-up sites, like LocalHookupz.com, treat those they meet online as little more than a means to an end. 

Dennis is said to have stared ahead without expression as he described what happened in St. Mary’s Park. He told cops that the day before the stabbing , he had approached Aponte asking, “You playing with my feelings?” When she responded no, he took a bus back to his block. He added that he “didn’t remember” having a knife on him. The next day, he said, he drank two beers and smoked a blunt before heading to the park where Aponte would be. He saw her sitting with a male friend and “tried to punch him.” He recounted what he and Aponte said to one another that day:

“He ran away,” the suspect told cops. “I got into a fight with Nimzay. I smacked her on her ass and told her to stop lying to me. I said, ‘That’s what you get for playing with my emotions.’”

Dennis told cops he has a history of mental illness. Last year, Dennis was sentenced to four months in prison after hitting a woman in the face so hard that he drew blood. 

Again: When hooking up with someone online, take every precaution to keep yourself safe, including not giving out any personal information like where you work, hang out, live, etc. Nimzay Aponte’s roommate says the young woman brushed Dennis off and thought he was just a “harmless crackhead.” We’ve had very limited contact with crackheads in our day, true, but we’re not sure we’d ever refer to someone as “harmless” and “crackhead” in the same sentence. Anyway. Be careful.

Felon charged with stabbing Nimzay Aponte to death tells NYPD cops: ‘I smacked her on her ass’ [NY Daily News]