A New York woman who collapsed at an illegal club in Queens on her 35th birthday was dragged back into the room by workers – where she died hours later
- Stephanie Quinones, 35, of Jackson Heights collapsed and was reportedly dragged by workers into a back room where she was left for hours until she died
- Quinones’ sister claims workers fled the scene and locked the door of the club, preventing emergency services from immediately arriving at the scene
A New York City woman who died after partying at an illegal nightclub in Queens was allegedly dragged into a back room by workers, where she was left for hours until she died.
Stephanie Quinones, 35, of Jackson Heights was reportedly celebrating her July 31 birthday at the unnamed nightclub on 49th Street in Astoria when she suddenly passed out, her family said.
New images, distributed online and reviewed by the New York Postappears to show nightclub employees surrounding Quinones as she lies unconscious on the floor.
With the disco lights still blaring, a man reaches forward and punches Quinones, who has a 12-year-old daughter, several times in the face, but she is still left lifeless.
Several workers then pick up the partygoer by her limbs as her body hangs forward.
Stephanie Quinones, 35, of Jackson Heights was reportedly celebrating her July 31 birthday at the unnamed nightclub on 49th Street in Astoria when she suddenly passed out
A makeshift memorial created outside the entrance to the club where well-wishers have left pictures, candles and balloons
A bartender at the club, who does not have a liquor license according to the State Liquor Authority, sent a photo of an unconscious Quinones to her mother in Florida and began texting her sister, Jasmine Gonzalez, who lives in the Bronx The New. York Post reported.
“Come get your drunk sister,” Gonzalez told The Post, the bartender said.
Gonzalez, who said he was unaware of the seriousness of the situation, arrived two hours later.
Upon arriving at the club, she called 911, but it was too late. Gonzalez claims that club employees fled and locked her up where they discovered her sister was dead.
“I was doing compressions on a dead person,” Gonzalez told The Post.
“Everyone left me alone. No one even had the decency to stay.’
Gonzalez also claims that by the time the ambulance reached the block, the club’s workers had locked the building’s door.
“They all left because they didn’t want to be the one when the police were called,” she said.
Quinones’ 12-year-old daughter, Laurel (pictured), has since visited the memorial to her beloved mother
The venue (pictured) is believed to be an illegal nightclub and does not have a liquor license, according to the State Liquor Authority
Quinones was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, her sister said.
The NYPD said they were investigating a person who had been pronounced dead that night upon arrival at the club’s location, though they did not identify Quinones by name.
“Someone would still have their mom if they just called 911,” Gonzalez said.
“What hurts me the most is that not only did they not call 911, but it was cruel to let me go there, giving me hope that she was alive.”
Quinones’ 12-year-old daughter has visited the makeshift monument erected in front of the club’s entrance.
The young girl was pictured next to two police officers as well-wishers left balloons and candles.
Family friend and activist Talea Wufka has posted videos on social media calling for a full investigation into Quinones’ death.
“If it’s an illegal establishment, this is the end result,” Wufka said.
“They didn’t want the police, they didn’t want an ambulance, because they didn’t want their illegal activities exposed.”
a GoFundMe page to raise money for Quinones’ funeral and for her daughter Laurel was founded by her sister and has since raised nearly $25,000.