A Haitian-American mother of two was fatally beaten in a White Plains motel in a tragic domestic violence incident.
Roseberline Philippe, 32, an office assistant at White Plains Hospital, was found dead in the bathtub of Room 230 at the Days Inn around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Police say her ex-boyfriend and father of her 2-year-old son, Justin Bartley, 32, assaulted her for several hours before fleeing with the child. Officers arrested Bartley later that evening.
He now faces second-degree murder charges and is being held without bail at Westchester County Jail. The toddler was unharmed and placed in the care of family members.
Philippe, remembered by colleagues as warm and reliable, grew up in Westchester County and graduated from Monroe College. Her sister, Yvena Philippe, said Rose had increasingly feared Bartley after the birth of their son in 2023. The couple, who met as teenagers at Port Chester High School, had a long history of a turbulent and controlling relationship. A confrontation at their apartment on Nov. 1, when Bartley was asked to leave, prompted Rose and her son to seek temporary refuge at the motel.
Bartley, who has a documented criminal history and another child with a different partner, told police the altercation was mutual, claiming Philippe was alive when he left the room.
Family members described Philippe as “a giver” whose life was tragically cut short by someone she trusted.
“She was devoted to her son, her family, and her friends. He took advantage of her generosity,” said Yvena Philippe.
A GoFundMe campaign, Support Roseberline Philippe’s Funeral & Child’s Future, has been launched to raise $20,000 for funeral expenses and the toddler’s long-term care.
This case highlights the ongoing risks of domestic violence and the urgent need for support systems for victims trying to escape abusive relationships.
Experts warn that temporary safe spaces, like shelters or motel accommodations, can still leave survivors vulnerable if perpetrators are determined to pursue them.
