Diana Agudelo Brutally Attacked on Randall’s Island: Paroled Rapist Miguel Jiraud Charged with Attempted Murder

NEW YORK CITY — May 23, 2025 — A paroled sex offender wearing an ankle monitor has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with the savage beating of a Queens mother on Randall’s Island last week, the NYPD announced Friday.

Miguel Jiraud, 30, who was previously convicted of rape and served more than a decade in prison, is accused of launching a violent and near-fatal attack on 33-year-old Diana Agudelo, a mother of two, whose battered body was discovered along a secluded bike path on the island. Authorities say the level of violence in the attack has shocked even veteran detectives.

Agudelo, unconscious and covered in blood, was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Sources say she suffered traumatic head injuries, multiple fractures, and extensive bruising. Doctors have placed her in a medically induced coma as her family prays for a miracle.

A Disturbing Criminal Past

Jiraud’s history is as troubling as it is relevant. In 2013, he was convicted of first-degree rape following a violent sexual assault in the Bronx. He was sentenced to 13 years in state prison and was released in 2024 under strict parole supervision, which included wearing a court-mandated GPS ankle monitor.

Yet despite that electronic tether, police allege Jiraud managed to carry out the brutal assault undetected — raising serious questions about oversight and the effectiveness of parole monitoring systems in New York State.

“This was a preventable tragedy,” a senior NYPD official told reporters off the record. “We had someone convicted of a heinous crime walking free — and now another innocent woman is paying the price.”

Claims of Innocence Amid Mounting Evidence

As officers led Jiraud from the 25th Precinct in Harlem Friday morning, he shouted to gathered reporters: “I didn’t touch her! I found her like that!” He insisted he was simply trying to help Agudelo when he came upon her bleeding on the ground.

But police say the evidence tells a different story.

Surveillance video, GPS tracking data, and forensic evidence recovered from the scene all point to Jiraud’s involvement, investigators say. His location at the time of the attack reportedly matched that of Agudelo’s last known movements. In addition, sources confirm that clothing items found on Jiraud tested positive for traces of the victim’s blood.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is pursuing the case aggressively and may seek additional charges, including kidnapping and criminal sexual act, pending further forensic results.

Public Outrage and Renewed Calls for Reform

News of the attack — and Jiraud’s parole status — has triggered widespread outrage among New Yorkers and sparked renewed debate over parole practices and criminal justice reform.

“Diana is the face of every woman who has been failed by a broken system,” said City Councilwoman Jennifer Ayala, who represents Queens’ 21st District, where Agudelo lives. “We cannot allow violent predators to roam free under the illusion of supervision. It’s not just dangerous — it’s deadly.”

Critics say the case underscores systemic flaws in the state’s parole monitoring program. While ankle monitors are intended to provide real-time tracking, sources say the system often suffers from delays in response or insufficient staffing to act on alerts in time.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has not commented publicly on the case but is facing mounting pressure from advocacy groups and elected officials to launch a full-scale review of how high-risk offenders are monitored after release.

A Family in Crisis

Agudelo’s family, devastated by the news, released a statement through a spokesperson: “Diana is a loving, devoted mother who did not deserve this. Our hearts are shattered. We ask the public to keep her in their prayers and to support all efforts to bring her justice.”

Neighbors described Agudelo as a hardworking single mom who juggled multiple jobs to care for her children, ages 7 and 10. “She always had a smile for everyone,” said one neighbor. “She’s the last person you’d expect something like this to happen to.”

Next Steps in the Legal Process

Jiraud has been remanded to Rikers Island and is scheduled for arraignment early next week in Manhattan Criminal Court. The NYPD’s Special Victims Unit continues to investigate, and sources say detectives are combing through his GPS data for links to other unsolved cases.

Anyone with information related to the incident or suspect is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

As Diana Agudelo fights for her life in a hospital bed, her case has become a lightning rod for urgent questions about justice, parole, and public safety — with answers that can no longer wait.