The New York City woman who allegedly stabbed a tourist from California in the bathroom of a Macy's store as the victim changed her baby's diaper was seen scowling after a psychiatric evaluation.
Kerri Aherne, 44, appeared in a downtown Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday as it was confirmed she was deemed 'fit' following a psychiatric evaluation while in custody.
The Massachusetts native stands accused of stabbing a mother, who was 38 at the time, repeatedly in the back as she changed the diaper of her ten-month-old baby on the afternoon of December 11, 2025, at the Macy's in Herald Square.
As she stood before the court, her defense attorney Kevin Sylvan confirmed that she had been 'found to be fit,' after she was previously determined not to be, following a psych evaluation.
Aherne was seen scowling as she sat beside her lawyer, flashing a smile at the judge only after being spoken to directly.
Prosecutors requested Aherne's remand be continued, meanwhile her attorney made no comment on bail.
Judge Biben agreed to restore Aherne's remand, as her legal team is expected to return with a motion by December 21.
Prosecutors previously accused Aherne of having gone into the Macy's bathroom on the seventh floor and stabbed the woman, causing her child to fall from the changing station onto the floor.
Kerri Aherne, 44, appeared in a downtown Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday as it was confirmed she was deemed 'fit' following a psychiatric evaluation while in custody
As she stood before the court, her defense attorney Kevin Sylvan confirmed that she had been 'found to be fit,' after she was previously determined not to be, following a psych evaluation
The Massachusetts native stands accused of stabbing a mother, who was 38 at the time, repeatedly in the back as she changed the diaper of her ten-month-old baby on the afternoon of December 11, 2025, at the Macy's in Herald Square
The victim suffered knife wounds to her back, shoulder and arm, before she was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The baby was not injured.
The attack only stopped when the victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, managed to subdue Aherne with the help of her baby's father.
'She had purchased a knife at Macy's and looked for someone to kill because voices in her head told her that she had to kill someone or else she would be killed,' Paul Barker, the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, said.
Aherne was arrested and charged with attempted murder, endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of assault and the criminal possession of a weapon.
Aherne had been released from Manhattan Psychiatric Center on the very same morning that she carried out the attack after a year inside the psychiatric center.
It was not immediately clear exactly why or when Aherne had been admitted into the Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
She had previously posted a series of disturbing messages on social media, including death threats to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and incoherent posts lashing out at US President Donald Trump, according to prosecutors.
Officials said Aherne was believed to be homeless and had never been arrested in New York before.
Aherne was seen scowling as she sat beside her lawyer, flashing a smile at the judge only after being spoken to directly
Aherne had been released from Manhattan Psychiatric Center on the very same morning that she carried out the attack after a year inside the psychiatric center
However, Aherne had previously been arrested in native Massachusetts in 2018 for posts online where she threatened to kill Warren.
She also claimed she was planning on 'getting a gun' to shoot someone at a 'local police station.'
Aherne had been declared an incapacitated person in 2019, per court records cited by the Post.
Her mother and sister were appointed as her guardians.
A court also directed Aherne to remain on Prolixin, an antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia, according to the records.
Aherne's social media history showed an extensive record of concerning, menacing posts.
'Going a little insane,' she posted in June 2018, alongside a photo of Michael Jackson.
One day earlier, she thanked a doctor for 'all your help.'
Aherne wrote: 'Your [sic] the only woman doctor who seemed to know what to do.'
Earlier that year, she posted: 'I don't think anybody can handle what I'm handling.'
Her account also regularly criticized Trump. Its most recent post said that the US was a 'dumbass pathetic country.'
Aherne previously protested being held without bail.
'I don't want to go to another hospital,' she told the court, adding that her Manhattan psychiatric stay had not helped.
The Daily Mail reached out to Aherne's attorney Kevin Sylvan for comment.
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