The bustling energy of Macy’s Herald Square shattered on Thursday when a woman, recently released from psychiatric care, allegedly attacked a stranger in a bathroom. Kerri Aherne, 43, now faces attempted murder charges after stabbing a California woman in the back as she tended to her baby.
The victim, an employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was swiftly transported to Bellevue Hospital and thankfully released the following day. The attack, described by police as completely unprovoked, has left many questioning how such a violent incident could unfold in a public space.
Court documents reveal a deeply troubled history for Aherne, whose last known address was in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She had been discharged from Manhattan Psychiatric Center just hours before the stabbing, following a year-long stay focused on managing her mental illness.
According to prosecutors, Aherne confessed to police that she felt compelled to act by voices in her head. She purchased a knife within Macy’s itself, actively searching for a victim because of a terrifying internal directive: kill someone, or be killed.
This wasn’t a sudden descent into crisis. Records from 2019 show Aherne was legally declared incapacitated, with her mother and sister appointed as her guardians. A court-ordered treatment plan was established, ensuring she continued to receive Prolixin, a crucial antipsychotic medication.
A haunting glimpse into Aherne’s state of mind can be found in her last Facebook post from 2018. Alongside a still from a Michael Jackson video, she wrote simply, “Going a little insane.” The post now feels like a chilling premonition.
During her arraignment on Friday, Aherne’s attorney indicated plans to petition for bail at a future hearing. However, when the judge announced she would be held without bail, Aherne desperately pleaded against being returned to another mental health facility.
“I don’t want to go to another hospital,” she reportedly said, her voice filled with anguish. “They didn’t help me at Manhattan Psychiatric Center.” Her next court appearance is scheduled for December 17th, leaving a community grappling with questions of care, safety, and the fragility of mental health.
