NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A sex offender is being held as a "person of interest" in the death of a Staten Island woman, and questions are being raised about whether an NYPD clerical error led to the tragedy.
Police believe 31-year-old Linden Beaton is responsible for viciously attacking 57-year-old Beatrice Kaliku on Bowen Street as she was headed to church Jan. 5.
But Beaton remained on the streets after that attack because an NYPD civilian employee involved in the case mistakenly marked it closed.
He was released weeks before he allegedly killed 69-year-old Johynita Jordan on Jan. 18.
Beaton was finally arrested on a number of charges last Friday. Jordan's body was found Sunday.
Kaliku spoke with CBS 2 about her attacker.
"Punch me, try to cover my mouth choke," she said. "And he just took my hair and slammed me to the iron gate."
The NYPD says the civilian employee and a supervisor have been disciplined for their mistake.
Beaton faces charges of assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment.




