A grief-stricken Bronx mom is demanding New York Metropolis hand over paperwork that element her daughter’s last moments earlier than she strangled herself along with her sweater inside an NYPD holding cell.
Thomasina Cheatham, 46, whose daughter Saniyah Cheatham, 18, died within the custody of the Bronx’s forty first NYPD precinct whereas being held in a single day on the Fourth of July in 2025, filed a petition towards the town as a result of its businesses allegedly failed to reply to her Freedom of Data Regulation (FOIL) about her loss of life.
In accordance with the Sept. 3 papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court docket, Saniyah was experiencing a psychological breakdown when she was arrested at a celebration in Crotona Park after getting right into a fist battle along with her girlfriend.
The teenager allegedly informed police that she was having suicidal ideas and mentioned that if she was left alone, she would take her personal life, based on the paperwork.
It’s not clear how she knew that her daughter was having these ideations.
However Saniyah was locked up alone in a cell on the Longwood Avenue stationhouse anyway, the place she was later discovered useless round 1 a.m. on July 5, 2025.
“Regardless of her clear want for psychological well being intervention, NYPD officers ignored her statements and positioned her in a holding cell by herself,” the petition states.
Thomasina argues that metropolis officers did not correctly deal with her daughter, and is asking for her whole file from the FDNY associated to the EMS response to her daughter’s loss of life.
She claims that the hearth division has repeatedly shot down her requests and appeals, however they’re a public company obligated at hand over Saniyah’s file. She allegedly first requested the paperwork in February.
“These preventable failures are inexcusable and we are going to use each authorized avenue to uncover the reality, shield the proof, and search full justice for Saniyah’s household,” mentioned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump in an October 2025 assertion.
In November 2025, Thomasina filed a separate petition calling for the NYPD to show over the names of the officers who arrested Saniyah and have been accountable for her on the evening she died.
She additionally demanded to evaluation all physique digital camera, safety video and data associated to her daughter.
On the time of Saniyah’s loss of life, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson acknowledged her household’s issues.
“At a time once we proceed to work to construct belief and partnership with the NYPD, we should additionally make sure that this household’s ache and trauma is (sic) acknowledged as they search solutions and justice for Saniyah,” Gibson wrote in an announcement.
Thomasina, her lawyer Jeremy Ravinsky, counsel for the town, and the NYPD didn’t return requests for remark. The FDNY declined to remark.
If you’re scuffling with suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and reside in New York Metropolis, you’ll be able to name 1-888-NYC-WELL without spending a dime and confidential disaster counseling. When you reside outdoors the 5 boroughs, you’ll be able to dial the 24/7 Nationwide Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
