LOCATION
New York City, New York
TIME PERIOD
October 25, 2012
VICTIMS
2 confirmed
On October 25, 2012, at approximately 5:35 PM, Lucia Krim, age 6, and Leo Krim, age 2, were murdered by their nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, in their family's apartment located at 57 West 75th Street, Manhattan, New York City. The children were found in a bathtub by their mother, Marina Krim, who had returned home from a swimming lesson with their three-year-old sister, Nessie. Ortega, who was convicted of the murders, used kitchen knives in the attack and subsequently attempted suicide by stabbing herself. She was found guilty on April 18, 2018, of first-degree and second-degree murder, and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole on May 14, 2018. The motive for the crime remains unclear, though it has been suggested it may have been related to revenge against the children's mother.
The motive behind the murders is believed to be revenge against the children's mother, Marina Krim, although the exact reasons remain unclear. Some speculate that Yoselyn Ortega may have been experiencing mental health issues that contributed to her actions. There are also theories that suggest Ortega's unstable mental state led her to perceive a threat or grievance against the family, prompting the tragic attack.
The Tragic Tale of the Krim Siblings
Introduction
On a seemingly ordinary day in New York City, the Krim family’s world was irreparably shattered. Lucia, known affectionately as "Lulu," and her younger brother Leo, aged six and two, respectively, were brutally murdered on October 25, 2012. Their home, nestled in the La Rochelle apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, became the scene of an unimaginable horror. Their part-time nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, was charged with the heinous crime, having fatally stabbed the children with kitchen knives. As their mother, Marina Krim, returned from a nearby swimming lesson with her three-year-old daughter Nessie, she unknowingly approached the devastating scene that awaited her.
Discovery of the Killings
That afternoon, Marina Krim, a devoted mother and former kindergarten teacher, returned to her family’s apartment with Nessie. They lived in a 10-story doorman building at 57 West 75th Street and Columbus Avenue. Marina had arrived earlier than planned because Ortega had failed to meet them at Lulu’s ballet lesson. Upon entering the dark and eerie silence of her home, Marina found no sign of her children. After a brief conversation with the building’s doorman, who had seen Ortega and the children return earlier, she and Nessie ventured back upstairs. There, in the bathroom, she stumbled upon a scene of devastation: her beloved children, Lulu and Leo, lay lifeless in the bathtub, their bodies marred by multiple stab wounds.
As Marina processed this nightmare, Yoselyn Ortega, the family’s trusted caregiver for over two years, lay next to the bathtub. In a shocking twist, Ortega began to stab herself repeatedly in the neck and throat. The apartment building superintendent and his ten-year-old son witnessed this tragic spectacle, which unfolded before them. The bodies of the two children were later removed from the building on a single stretcher. Kevin Krim, the children’s father and a CNBC executive, learned of the catastrophe upon his return from a business trip to San Francisco.
The Perpetrator
Yoselyn Ortega, a 50-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic, had been part of the Krim family’s life for some time. She resided in Manhattan's Hamilton Heights with her 17-year-old son Jesus, her sister, and her niece. Despite her seemingly close relationship with the Krims, who even funded her trips to visit family in the Dominican Republic, Ortega harbored resentment. She claimed dissatisfaction with her $18-per-hour wage and sought more hours, a request to which Marina Krim suggested she could take on housework, a suggestion Ortega found insulting.
The Trial
Ortega survived her self-inflicted injuries and was found mentally competent to stand trial by two New York State psychiatrists. Her trial became a long, arduous process. She was indicted in November 2012 on two counts of first-degree murder. Throughout the five years leading to the trial, Ortega appeared in court approximately 90 times. In April 2016, Judge Gregory Carro offered her a plea deal of 30-years-to-life in exchange for guilty pleas, which she declined, maintaining her plea of not guilty due to mental illness. The prosecution, however, argued that Ortega was fully aware of her actions.
The trial commenced on February 22, 2018, with the jury’s selection. On March 1, the courtroom in Manhattan Supreme Court was set for opening statements. The trial, anticipated to span four months, concluded in less than two. On April 18, 2018, Ortega was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder. A month later, she was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Judge Carro described Ortega as "pure evil," criticizing her and her family for concealing her mental health issues from the Krims.
Aftermath and Legacy
In the wake of this tragedy, the Krims channeled their grief into the creation of the Lulu & Leo Fund, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing creative education programs for disadvantaged children. The initiative, called Choose Creativity, served 2,300 children by 2014. The Krims have since had two more children, Felix and Linus, who occasionally feature in the fund’s promotional materials.
Additionally, the state of New York enacted Lulu & Leo’s Law in August 2018, a landmark legislation making it a crime to misrepresent qualifications when applying for work as a child caregiver. Kevin Krim highlighted the importance of this law, noting the deception that led to the hiring of their children’s murderer.
Cultural Impact
The tragic story of the Krim siblings also inspired French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani's novel, initially titled "Chanson Douce" in French and later released as "Lullaby" in the UK and "The Perfect Nanny" in the U.S. The book received critical acclaim in France, winning the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2016.
Sources
For further reading and detailed references, please visit the Wikipedia page: Wikipedia URL.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Murder of Krim Siblings
Lucia and Leo Krim are murdered by their nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, in their Manhattan apartment.
Discovery of Bodies
Marina Krim returns home to find her children dead in the bathtub and Ortega attempting suicide.
Ortega Indicted
Yoselyn Ortega is indicted on two counts of first-degree murder.
Trial Begins
Jury selection begins for Yoselyn Ortega's trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Guilty Verdict
Yoselyn Ortega is found guilty of first-degree and second-degree murder.
Sentencing
Ortega is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lulu & Leo's Law Passed
New York State passes Lulu & Leo's Law to protect children from caregiver misrepresentation.
Law Signed
Governor Cuomo signs Lulu & Leo's Law into effect.
On October 25, 2012, at approximately 5:35 PM, Lucia Krim, age 6, and Leo Krim, age 2, were murdered by their nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, in their family's apartment located at 57 West 75th Street, Manhattan, New York City. The children were found in a bathtub by their mother, Marina Krim, who had returned home from a swimming lesson with their three-year-old sister, Nessie. Ortega, who was convicted of the murders, used kitchen knives in the attack and subsequently attempted suicide by stabbing herself. She was found guilty on April 18, 2018, of first-degree and second-degree murder, and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole on May 14, 2018. The motive for the crime remains unclear, though it has been suggested it may have been related to revenge against the children's mother.
The motive behind the murders is believed to be revenge against the children's mother, Marina Krim, although the exact reasons remain unclear. Some speculate that Yoselyn Ortega may have been experiencing mental health issues that contributed to her actions. There are also theories that suggest Ortega's unstable mental state led her to perceive a threat or grievance against the family, prompting the tragic attack.
The Tragic Tale of the Krim Siblings
Introduction
On a seemingly ordinary day in New York City, the Krim family’s world was irreparably shattered. Lucia, known affectionately as "Lulu," and her younger brother Leo, aged six and two, respectively, were brutally murdered on October 25, 2012. Their home, nestled in the La Rochelle apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, became the scene of an unimaginable horror. Their part-time nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, was charged with the heinous crime, having fatally stabbed the children with kitchen knives. As their mother, Marina Krim, returned from a nearby swimming lesson with her three-year-old daughter Nessie, she unknowingly approached the devastating scene that awaited her.
Discovery of the Killings
That afternoon, Marina Krim, a devoted mother and former kindergarten teacher, returned to her family’s apartment with Nessie. They lived in a 10-story doorman building at 57 West 75th Street and Columbus Avenue. Marina had arrived earlier than planned because Ortega had failed to meet them at Lulu’s ballet lesson. Upon entering the dark and eerie silence of her home, Marina found no sign of her children. After a brief conversation with the building’s doorman, who had seen Ortega and the children return earlier, she and Nessie ventured back upstairs. There, in the bathroom, she stumbled upon a scene of devastation: her beloved children, Lulu and Leo, lay lifeless in the bathtub, their bodies marred by multiple stab wounds.
As Marina processed this nightmare, Yoselyn Ortega, the family’s trusted caregiver for over two years, lay next to the bathtub. In a shocking twist, Ortega began to stab herself repeatedly in the neck and throat. The apartment building superintendent and his ten-year-old son witnessed this tragic spectacle, which unfolded before them. The bodies of the two children were later removed from the building on a single stretcher. Kevin Krim, the children’s father and a CNBC executive, learned of the catastrophe upon his return from a business trip to San Francisco.
The Perpetrator
Yoselyn Ortega, a 50-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic, had been part of the Krim family’s life for some time. She resided in Manhattan's Hamilton Heights with her 17-year-old son Jesus, her sister, and her niece. Despite her seemingly close relationship with the Krims, who even funded her trips to visit family in the Dominican Republic, Ortega harbored resentment. She claimed dissatisfaction with her $18-per-hour wage and sought more hours, a request to which Marina Krim suggested she could take on housework, a suggestion Ortega found insulting.
The Trial
Ortega survived her self-inflicted injuries and was found mentally competent to stand trial by two New York State psychiatrists. Her trial became a long, arduous process. She was indicted in November 2012 on two counts of first-degree murder. Throughout the five years leading to the trial, Ortega appeared in court approximately 90 times. In April 2016, Judge Gregory Carro offered her a plea deal of 30-years-to-life in exchange for guilty pleas, which she declined, maintaining her plea of not guilty due to mental illness. The prosecution, however, argued that Ortega was fully aware of her actions.
The trial commenced on February 22, 2018, with the jury’s selection. On March 1, the courtroom in Manhattan Supreme Court was set for opening statements. The trial, anticipated to span four months, concluded in less than two. On April 18, 2018, Ortega was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder. A month later, she was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Judge Carro described Ortega as "pure evil," criticizing her and her family for concealing her mental health issues from the Krims.
Aftermath and Legacy
In the wake of this tragedy, the Krims channeled their grief into the creation of the Lulu & Leo Fund, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing creative education programs for disadvantaged children. The initiative, called Choose Creativity, served 2,300 children by 2014. The Krims have since had two more children, Felix and Linus, who occasionally feature in the fund’s promotional materials.
Additionally, the state of New York enacted Lulu & Leo’s Law in August 2018, a landmark legislation making it a crime to misrepresent qualifications when applying for work as a child caregiver. Kevin Krim highlighted the importance of this law, noting the deception that led to the hiring of their children’s murderer.
Cultural Impact
The tragic story of the Krim siblings also inspired French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani's novel, initially titled "Chanson Douce" in French and later released as "Lullaby" in the UK and "The Perfect Nanny" in the U.S. The book received critical acclaim in France, winning the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2016.
Sources
For further reading and detailed references, please visit the Wikipedia page: Wikipedia URL.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Murder of Krim Siblings
Lucia and Leo Krim are murdered by their nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, in their Manhattan apartment.
Discovery of Bodies
Marina Krim returns home to find her children dead in the bathtub and Ortega attempting suicide.
Ortega Indicted
Yoselyn Ortega is indicted on two counts of first-degree murder.
Trial Begins
Jury selection begins for Yoselyn Ortega's trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Guilty Verdict
Yoselyn Ortega is found guilty of first-degree and second-degree murder.
Sentencing
Ortega is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lulu & Leo's Law Passed
New York State passes Lulu & Leo's Law to protect children from caregiver misrepresentation.
Law Signed
Governor Cuomo signs Lulu & Leo's Law into effect.