Grief overcomes Harlem at vigil for
murdered 10-year-old Ayden Wolfe
Apostle Staci J. Ramos was overwhelmed with emotion after speaking at the vigil.
BY DEAN MOSES
The death of Ayden Wolfe has left a
hole in the heart of Harlem.
The 10-year-old boy was found
dead inside his apartment within the St.
Nicholas Houses on West 131st Street on
March 5, 2021. He was brutally beaten, an
apparent victim of child abuse allegedly
committed by his mother’s boyfriend, Ryan
Cato, who was subsequently charged with
the boy’s murder.
With so much sorrow and anger built up
in both those who knew him and those who
have only read about the tragedy, dozens
of individuals gathered at the St. Nicholas
Houses on March 11 for a candlelight vigil
to express their emotions. They included local
clergy and community members, along
with NYPD officers.
Grasping flickering candles and signs
reading “Protect our youth” and “Stop
violence in our community,” the vigil participants
formed a circle below the 14-story
apartment building. Flanked by an array of
television cameras and microphones, religious
leaders from an assortment of faiths
evoked their spiritual beliefs and prayed for
the murdered boy.
“We are here because a 10-year-old child
was beaten to death, and although we are
ministers, we are very, very angry. We are
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
very, very upset. This cannot ever happen
again. We will not allow it to happen again,
Mourners gathered with candles and balloons.
and we will not forget Ayden,” Reverend
Oswald Denis, co-host of the vigil, told
amNewYork Metro.
Amidst the deluge of grief and tears
shed, Ayden’s father, Darnell Wolfe, joined
the vigil. Struggling to keep his emotions
in check, Wolfe, who originally hails from
the Bronx, thanked those in attendance for
their support.
“I want to thank everyone for showing
all the love and support that everyone is
giving. Although much wasn’t revealed
about the situation, we will continue to ask
questions and find out more. Again, I want
to thank everyone. I feel the love. I am torn
up over this,” Wolfe said.
Cato was arrested on March 7 and
charged with murder and endangering the
welfare of a child. Police sources said has
an arrest record, and there is an open child
abuse case against him with the Administration
for Children’s Services (ACS).
Chief of Community Affairs Jeffrey B.
Maddrey attended the ceremony to show
his and the NYPD’s support of the community
and the family.
“This is a difficult subject to talk about.
I’m a father of three daughters and just
recently had a granddaughter. Children
are the most precious gifts from God, they
truly are. There are families out here fighting
for their precious gifts and who fight to
have those precious gifts,” Maddrey said,
gripping Denis’ hand tightly as he spoke.
Maddrey pleaded with the public not to
let another child abuse tragedy happen in
New York again.
“I just want everybody in this whole city
to know that if you are ever experiencing
any problems or any trouble, and you need
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
someone you could turn to or talk to, you
can call the Community Affairs,” he said.
“You can call this Department of the NYPD,
we will help you, talk to you, and support
you, and direct you in any way we can. For
these babies out here it is our duty, if we
have to lay down our lives to protect them.”
Mourners at the vigil stressed that more
people should have called when they first
heard the sounds of the abuse, stating “If
you see or hear something, say something.”
The vigil concluded with the release of
balloons into the dark evening sky.
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
Chief of Community Affairs Jeffrey B. Maddrey gripped Rev. Oswald Denis’
hand as he spoke.
4 March 18, 2021 Schneps Media