In a shocking turn of events, the suspect accused in the brutal beating of a woman e-bike commuting on Randall’s Island last week has been ordered jailed to await trial, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced. Miguel Jiraud, 30, was arraigned last Friday on charges of attempted murder and assault in the late-night attack on 44-year-old Diana Agudela, who was just trying to get home to Queens from her job at the Museum of the City of New York in Manhattan. The attack left Agudela in critical condition, and she has undergone multiple brain surgeries, according to Assistant District Attorney Edward Smith.
Jiraud, who was released from prison in September after serving time for a rape conviction in 2013, was on parole at the time of the attack. Despite wearing a GPS-monitoring anklet, which placed him at the scene of the crime, Jiraud viciously attacked Agudela after she crossed onto Randall’s Island late that night. The GPS monitor indicated that Jiraud was near where Agudela was found hours later, riding the stolen e-bike at a speed of up to 16 miles per hour. After the attack, Jiraud callously threw the stolen bike into the East River, where it was later recovered by NYPD scuba divers.
Agudela’s daughter, Stephanie Rodas, has been vocal about the need for increased safety measures on the path where her mother was assaulted. She emphasized the importance of surveillance cameras and lighting to prevent future attacks. Agudela’s mother-in-law, Elva Montoya, expressed disbelief at the senseless violence inflicted upon Agudela, describing her as a hardworking mother who was simply trying to return home to her children. Jiraud is being represented by the New York Legal Aid Society, but they have not yet provided any comment on the case. The community remains shocked and outraged by this heinous crime, hoping for justice to be served for Agudela and her family.
