Wife of 'Duck Sauce Killer' faces gun charges for stashing weapons used in delivery driver killing
QUEENS, NEW YORK: The trial of Dorothy Hirsch, the wife of the accused 'Duck Sauce Killer' Glenn Hirsch, once received a text message from her brother, intended for her husband, instructing her to "bring your 9mm."
Dorothy stands indicted on multiple charges of gun possession, a case her defense argues is rooted in her husband's actions and their shared history of abuse.
Dorothy Hirsch's defense claims involvement due to marital pressures
Hirsch, who took his own life in 2022 before facing trial, was accused of fatally shooting Zhiwen Yan, a Chinese delivery driver, over a dispute involving duck sauce on April 30.
As the trial unfolds, Dorothy's defense asserts that she was coerced into harboring the weapons that her husband allegedly used in the crime.
Defense attorney Mark Bederow contends that Dorothy's involvement in the case is a consequence of her marriage to Hirsch, stating, "This case is about punishing Ms. Hirsch for the alleged sins of her husband. If she was not married to Glenn Hirsch, not subject to his years of abuse, that there would be no prosecution here."
Dorothy Hirsch's fingerprints and DNA were not found on the weapons
During her opening statement, the Queens Assistant DA asserted that authorities discovered eight illegal weapons and more than 400 rounds of ammunition in an apartment solely occupied by Dorothy.
"In the closet where the guns were found she kept her toilet paper, her hand soap and other household items," stated the DA.
During the trial, revelations have surfaced regarding the extent of Hirsch's hoarding tendencies, with investigators describing his apartment as filled with clutter.
Nonetheless, prosecutors argue that Dorothy had control over the weapons discovered in her home, despite the absence of her fingerprints and DNA on them.
Additionally, the defense has introduced evidence of Hirsch's extensive history of domestic violence against Dorothy. They argue that this background offers a compelling explanation for her alleged lack of knowledge about the weapons.
"Glenn's acts of brutality against Dorothy (before and during their marriage) included sadistic and violent sexual abuse, striking, cutting and menacing her with weapons, punching her, slapping her, threatening to kill her, extortion and contempt," Bederow penned in 2022.
Glenn Hirsch's suicide note claims sole responsibility for guns
Hirsch, in a bid to exonerate his wife posthumously, made efforts from beyond the grave by crafting a six-page suicide note. In this "dying declaration," Hirsch took sole responsibility for the eight guns recovered from a closet in Dorothy's apartment.
"I acquired these firearms many years ago and they remained undisturbed in an outside storage facility shared with previous roommates," he claimed.
"However a couple of years ago when my wife purchased her new cooperative apartment. I decided to close the storage unit. It was at that time I moved those items into my wife's apartment and placed them inside a hallway storage closet along with numerous other unopened bags and boxes... She had absolutely no part in obtaining the firearms nor did she have any knowledge they were inside of her residence," he added, as reported by Daily Mail.
Prior to Dorothy's arrest, Bederow elucidated in a two-page letter to Assistant District Attorney Thomas Salmon that prosecutors were mindful of her extensive history as a victim of Hirsch's domestic violence.
In conjunction with the letter, Bederow provided documentation detailing ten sealed arrests spanning from 1991 to 2012, predominantly involving Dorothy as the victim.
Glenn Hirsch's alleged abuse of Dorothy predates marriage
The cycle of abuse began in 1995, years before Hirsch and Dorothy were married. During this time, the suspect purportedly confined her to a motel room, where he proceeded to physically assault her by forcibly stripping her and using a pistol to strike her.
Subsequently, Hirsch subjected Dorothy to further brutality, leaving her bound, gagged, and blindfolded while committing acts of sexual violence. Hirsch reportedly inflicted additional harm by cutting her abdomen with a knife, striking her with a ruler, and employing physical force.
Twelve years later, the pattern of violence persisted as Hirsch assaulted his wife once again. This time, he used a rolled-up towel to strike her before resorting to punching and scratching.
He then silenced her cries for help by placing a pillow over her face, accompanied by threats against her and her family should she seek assistance from law enforcement.
During this particular incident, authorities discovered a firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition, a knife, and even a police shield in Hirsch's bedroom. Bederow asserted, "It is regrettable that the DA would simply disregard the domestic violence history and refuse to disclose favorable evidence."
Amidst the legal proceedings, details continue to surface about Hirsch's peculiar fixation on condiments, particularly duck sauce.
Sources reveal that his refrigerator was stocked with sweet and sour duck sauce, hinting at a possible obsession that may have played a role in the tragic events.
"I guess in some pathology people like that take that stuff very seriously - you didn't give him enough duck sauce," they said.