Man pleads guilty to assault of girlfriend who later died after falling down stairs

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A 54-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting his Syracuse girlfriend who died a month later, according to state court records.

Jose Miranda-Ramos faces two years in prison, according to Assistant District Attorney Ariana Pastorello. He will not be charged in the death of Isabel DeJesus, 57, who fell down a flight of stairs on the night of the assault and later died in a hospital, according to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.

Pastorello said the DA’s office and police could not determine whether DeJesus died because she was assaulted by Miranda-Ramos.

When DeJesus was assaulted on Oct. 1, her son was also there and witnessed his mother falling down the stairs after Miranda-Ramos had already left the home, Pastorello said.

“We can’t indict someone on a maybe,” Pastorello told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

She also said DeJesus had a pre-existing heart condition and hit her chest multiple times when she fell down the stairs.

Police initially reported to syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that DeJesus was struck by her boyfriend and fell down a flight of stairs at her home, 407 Tully St., in October 2023. DeJesus was taken to the hospital and Miranda-Ramos was charged with assault. DeJesus was treated in the hospital for almost a month before she died.

When DeJesus died, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said authorities were waiting for an autopsy report to determine if there would be more serious charges.

Miranda-Ramos will be sentenced March 4 to two years in state prison, followed by three years post-release supervision, Pastorello said. He could have faced 25 years to life if convicted of murder.

DeJesus moved to Syracuse in 2003 and had a reputation for helping people who immigrated to the U.S., her daughter, Hiachira Rivera said. Over the years she helped many Cuban, Mexican and Guatemalan residents earn permanent residency status in the states, Rivera said.

“She always told us to help people who needed it,” Rivera said. “That’s just something she taught us when we were little.”

DeJesus is survived by six children, 18 grandchildren and 17 siblings.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.