A married Harvard-trained cardiologist killed his mistress’ baby after he learned he was not the father.
New York-based cardiologist Dr. Vignendra Ariyarajah killed his mistress’ unborn child in a jealous rage after he found out she got pregnant by another man. According to court documents, Ariyarajah is accused of paying a female and another person to trap his 30-year-old mistress, Paul Marie Raymond, in a Ditmas Park Brooklyn home to torture her and murder the unborn child.
The suspects then gave the seven-and-a-half-month pregnant woman poisonous medicine, allegedly starved her and fed her water through a syringe. Authorities believe the poisonous medicine was either fentanyl or PCP. While the suspects carried out their duty, Ariyarajah was off on vacation with his wife skiing in Montana, according to court documents and law enforcement sources. Raymond was held at the home for days and eventually attempted to escape but was returned. Shortly after, she went into labor. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office says the baby was born alive in December 2016 but died hours later after several days of labor, Page Six reports.
One of the two suspects ended up calling the police, and first responders found Raymond on the brink of death. Prosecutors discovered that not only was she poisoned while being held hostage, but the criminals also tortured her. Officials found the woman with her fingernails torn off and chemical burns on her face. However, Ariyarajah’s defense team claimed the doctor prescribed the woman PCP and said she worked in his office for nine years. The doctor went on to say the woman struggled with mental illness and miscarried.
Dr. Ariyarajah currently lives in New Jersey, free on bail but has to wear an ankle bracelet. He still is allowed to visit his hospital and prescribe medication to patients. He was indicted in February on charges of criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. His court date has been set for May 9.
