GoFundMe Raises $15K After Bronx Mother Yesenia Hall Fatally Stabbed in Apartment

 A Bronx family is facing unimaginable grief after 42-year-old Yesenia Hall was fatally stabbed inside her Sherman Avenue apartment in a violent attack that also left her teenage son critically wounded. The tragedy unfolded just after 6:30 a.m. on February 28, when officers with the New York City Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing. Inside the home, they found Hall suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck, torso, and back. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hall’s 16-year-old son was also discovered with serious stab wounds to his neck and back. Authorities say he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains in stable condition. Family members describe him as having tried to shield his sister during the attack, an act of bravery that may have saved her life. The violence has left the surviving siblings traumatized and struggling to comprehend the loss of their mother.

Police later arrested Hall’s longtime partner, 45-year-old Juan Rivas, and charged him with murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. According to officials, Rivas was taken into custody hours after the incident and is being held without bail. Prosecutors allege the attack was domestic in nature, though investigators continue piecing together the precise sequence of events leading up to the fatal stabbing.

Beyond the criminal case, the emotional devastation for Hall’s children is profound. Her adult daughter, Jaylah Maldonado, has stepped forward not only as a grieving daughter but as the family’s organizer and advocate. She created a fundraiser titled “Help Jaylah Rebuild After Family Tragedy” to assist with funeral expenses, medical bills for her injured brother, and the sudden financial strain left in the wake of her mother’s death.

In a deeply personal message on the fundraiser page, Maldonado recounts the horror of witnessing the attack and the helplessness she felt as violence unfolded in their home. She describes her mother as the family’s foundation — their primary source of emotional strength and financial stability. With that support gone overnight, the siblings now face the dual burden of mourning and survival.

As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $15,000, reflecting a wave of compassion from community members and strangers moved by the family’s story. Donations continue to come in as supporters share the fundraiser link across social media, hoping to ease some of the immediate financial pressures during an already overwhelming time.

Domestic violence advocates note that cases like this underscore the ongoing crisis affecting families nationwide. Behind closed doors, warning signs can escalate into irreversible tragedy. Community organizations throughout New York City continue urging individuals experiencing abuse to seek help and reminding neighbors to remain vigilant and supportive.

For Jaylah Maldonado and her brother, the road ahead will be marked by grief, court proceedings, and the long process of rebuilding a life forever altered. Yesenia Hall is remembered by loved ones as a devoted mother whose absence leaves an irreplaceable void. In the midst of heartbreak, the growing support for her children stands as a testament to a community determined to help them find stability after unimaginable loss.