New York — A woman has been charged with attempted murder after a shocking incident in a Macy’s store where she allegedly stabbed a mother changing her baby’s diaper in a restroom. The suspect, Kerri Aherne, was released from a psychiatric facility mere hours before the attack, according to prosecutors.
Aherne, 24, was arraigned on Friday night in New York Criminal Court. She faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and assault, following the December 11 event at the iconic Herald Square location. The attack reportedly occurred around 3:15 p.m. in a women’s bathroom on the seventh floor of the department store.
Authorities have indicated that Aherne has a complex history of mental health issues. Previously in Massachusetts, she faced serious charges in 2018 for threatening Senator Elizabeth Warren and was involved in a shooting incident at a police station. In 2024, while on a temporary leave from a psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts, Aherne traveled to New York City, leading to her eventual stay at the Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
According to prosecutors, Aherne had been living at the psychiatric center on Randall’s Island for over a year before her recent discharge. It remains unclear why she was released just hours before the alleged stabbing. Attempts to clarify this with the state Office of Mental Health have yet to yield a response.
On the day of the stabbing, Aherne is accused of purchasing a knife at Macy’s and searching for a victim. She allegedly claimed to have been driven by voices instructing her to commit murder. The victim, a 38-year-old woman visiting from California, was in the process of changing her child’s diaper when Aherne attacked her, repeatedly stabbing her, causing the child to fall off the changing table onto the floor.
Despite her injuries, the mother managed to overpower Aherne, detaining her until Macy’s security personnel intervened. The mother was treated for a laceration on her arm, while her baby sustained minor injuries from the fall.
Aherne, in a statement to law enforcement, expressed her reluctance to continue receiving treatment in mental health facilities, stating her preference was to serve time in jail instead. During her arraignment, the presiding judge denied bail, remanding her to the Department of Correction’s custody. She is scheduled to return to court on December 17 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder.
The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns surrounding mental health and public safety, raising questions about the effectiveness of treatment and discharge protocols in mental health facilities.