Suspect Held in Stabbing Death of Former Riverside Woman

A 33-year-old New York man reportedly has confessed to fatally stabbing his girlfriend — a former Riverside resident who graduated in 2005.

Raul Barrera was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge in Manhattan Criminal Court Monday and ordered held without bond in connection with the brutal stabbing death of Sarah Coit, officials say. At a press conference Monday, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Barrera surrendered to officers at the Lower East Side’s 9th Precinct early Sunday. Kelly said Barrera told police, “ I did something bad.” Kelly said officers found Coit in the living room of the couple’s apartment. They also recovered eight knives, he said.

According to reports in The Daily News, the stabbing culminated a violent argument between Coit and Barrera, with Coit attempting to break off the relationship. Coit's neighbors finally called the NYPD after hearing her screams for help. Police found Coit about 2:30 a.m. and she died about two hours later at Beth Israel Hospital. An autopsy revealed Coit died from a large stab wound to her torso, according to The Daily News.

A woman answering the telephone at the Coits’ home Monday afternoon declined to comment.

One neighbor in the quiet Riverside neighborhood of Winthrop Drive where Coits parents reside, said she heard the woman’s family had planned to travel to New York on Sunday to help her move from the apartment.

Nearly all of the residents in the neighborhood of Cape Cod, colonial and split-level homes said they knew little of the family – that the winding, circular road once inhabited by long-time families who socialized together and whose children attended classes together - is being replaced by younger families.

“It used to be a close-knit neighborhood but a lot of people who lived here have moved away,” said another resident who declined to give her name.

Another resident said his son graduated with Coit from Greenwich High School “but they didn’t hang in the same group” and couldn’t speak about Coit and her family.

Nearly all of the neighbors contacted Monday said they did not know the Coit family and could not comment on “a sad, sad tragedy.” Another resident, who would not give her name added, “I understand they are a very private family. It is such a tragedy.”

Another neighbor, who said she did not know the family, said she was unaware of the tragedy until she was telephoned by The New York Times seeking comment. Another said she became aware of the situation after seeing a patrol car parked outside her home Sunday evening.

Greenwich Police were summoned by New York City Police at 10:38 a.m. to go to the 66 Winthrop Drive home of Coit’s family. Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray refused to comment, referring questions to the NYPD. They were called to the home again late Sunday afternoon, according to Greenwich Police records. Again, Gray declined comment.

Several cars were parked outside the family’s home where a group of women chatted outside the white-shingled Cape Cod-style house. A delivery van from stopped by the home during the early afternoon.

According to the yearbook, Compass, Coit was a member of the girls’ cross-country and track teams in her sophomore and junior years. Her senior yearbook picture included the quote “ To all the boys and girls of Glenville, it’s been real. Jessica and the outside crew … we had fun. I’ll be home when I’m sleeping. I can hardly wait. – The Replacements.”

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Greenwich High School Headmaster Chris Winters said, “Sarah Coit, a Greenwich High School graduate, Class of 2005, died tragically this weekend. There are few words to express the shock and sadness that is felt with news such as this. We offer our sincerest condolences to her family and friends."