Former Handyman Sentenced to 35 Years to Life for 2023 Upper West Side Murder

A state Supreme Court judge has sentenced 51-year-old Lashawn Mackey to 35 years to life in state prison for the January 2023 murder of 74-year-old Maria Hernandez in her Upper West Side apartment.

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Judge Felicia Menin handed down the sentence, which combines a 25-years-to-life term for murder with a consecutive 10-year term for burglary. Sentences for additional charges, including sexual abuse, robbery, and felony murder, will run concurrently. Under this sentencing structure, Mackey will be at least 86 years old before he is eligible for parole.

### The Crime and Trial

According to prosecutors and court records, the incident occurred on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 126 West 83rd Street. Prosecutors established that the perpetrators entered the building, disabled the surveillance system by cutting wires in the basement, and subsequently bound, gagged, and assaulted Hernandez. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined that Hernandez died of homicidal asphyxia, including neck compression.

Mackey, who had worked as a temporary handyman in the building in 2022, was convicted by a Manhattan jury on May 19, 2026, following a second trial. His first trial in February 2026 had ended in a mistrial due to prosecutorial discovery failures. A co-defendant, Terrence Moore, died in custody in February 2025 before facing trial.

### Sentencing Arguments and Statements

During the sentencing hearing, Mackey maintained his innocence, telling the court, "I’m innocent. I did not do the crime." His defense attorney, Jessica Horani, noted that Mackey had already spent more than half of his life incarcerated for prior convictions and that the sentence would likely mean he dies in custody. Horani confirmed that Mackey plans to appeal the conviction.

Judge Menin rejected the defense's characterization, describing the evidence against Mackey as "overwhelming" and characterizing the crime as a planned, predatory attack. The judge highlighted video evidence showing Mackey and his co-defendant sharing a celebratory hug after the crime, noting an apparent lack of remorse.

In a statement issued after the sentencing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed hope that the outcome would bring comfort to Hernandez's family, who attended the trial and delivered emotional statements during the hearing.