Killer of NYC Postal Worker Gets 15 Years—Victim’s Family Calls It Injustice

A transgender woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a USPS postal worker at a New York City deli, igniting outrage among the victim’s family. Jaia Cruz, 24, accepted a plea deal for manslaughter after fatally injuring 36-year-old Ray Hodge III during a dispute over line placement. Reports indicate that an argument erupted as Hodge ordered food, leading Cruz to lash out and stab him seven times after an altercation escalated. While prosecutors dropped a second-degree murder charge, family members were incensed by the leniency of the sentence. Hodge’s mother lamented the loss, asserting her son was unfairly taken. Cruz’s attorney argued that Hodge provoked the incident, further complicating perceptions of justice in this tragic case.