Police say they are searching for a motive nearly four months after a Bronx mother allegedly killed her two young twins late last year.
George and Gianna Kantanka, 5, were found dead on Dec. 18, 2023 inside their Mount Hope apartment. Their mother, 42-year-old Gloria Asamoah, initially called police claiming she had found them unconscious and foaming at their mouths inside their residence shortly before 11:20 a.m. that day.
According to police, the mother — who was home alone at the time while her husband work — claimed she had last seen her children alive around 5 a.m. yet when she went to check them that morning they were cold to the touch. Police had also been told the children had been suffering from a recent illness.
But following an extensive investigation and autopsies conducted by the city’s medical examiner, detectives now believe both children had been murdered, allegedly by their own mother.
“This is one of those cases why we always say that information is preliminary and subject to change because March 13, approximately 10 weeks later, an autopsy reveals that both kids’ cause of death was asphyxia, meaning that they were choked,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at an April 9 press briefing.
What continues to baffle detectives is the question of motive. Neighbors told police that Asamoah was a loving and doting mother; there were no immediate signs of neglect in the home, and the family’s refrigerator was fully stocked.
An immigrant from Ghana, police reported, Asamoah apparently moved to the United States when she was 23 and lived in several states before settling in the Big Apple. When she was confronted about the murders she reportedly requested a lawyer.
Police say they have surveillance footage of Asamoah entering the apartment building on Dec. 17, 2023 with her children and then video the next day around 5 a.m. that shows her pacing around a hallway while speaking with her husband over the phone.
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Detectives also learned that before their deaths, the children were being evaluated for potential autism diagnoses.
Kenny noted that Asamoah is now undergoing treatment at a psychiatric facility. Police say they have a warrant for her arrest after she had been indicted by a Bronx grand jury on murder charges.
“She is not free to leave at any given time. She’s there until doctors clear her. At that point, she will be taken into custody by the NYPD,” Chief Kenny added.
A GoFundMe has be set up in memory of the children. As of Wednesday morning, a little more than $1,000 has been raised toward the $30,000 goal.
The children’s father is not expected to be charged, police said.
