On a tragic night in the Bronx, New York, Rita Faulk's life was violently cut short. On February 24, 1989, she, along with Barbara Chiles, age 42, and Serray Watson, were kidnapped by three armed men. The perpetrators targeted the women in the belief that one of their sons was involved in drug activities and they were in pursuit of drugs and money.
The three women were taken to an apartment on West 195th Street in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.
Inside the apartment, the harrowing ordeal escalated as the men, identified in court documents as Felipe Concepcion and Thomas Cross along with a third man, handcuffed the women together. After ransacking the apartment in their desperate search, they shot each of the women in the head. Rita Faulk and Barbara Chiles died instantly from their injuries.
In a remarkable act of survival, Serray Watson, despite being shot, managed to drag herself and the bodies of her friends to a telephone to call for help. Her survival was pivotal in the subsequent investigation. Watson was able to provide crucial details about the attackers to the police. Her testimony during the trial proved to be a key element in securing the conviction of the men responsible for the heinous crimes. Felipe Concepcion and Thomas Cross were later convicted on multiple charges, including murder and kidnapping.
