A career criminal with a rap sheet longer than a CVS receipt is back in the headlines, this time facing charges in a deadly hit-and-run that claimed the life of a Queens mother who’d just beaten cancer. Timothy Bohler, 31, already locked up for allegedly hacking off a stranger’s fingers in a savage machete attack earlier this year, was slapped with vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene counts on Saturday, according to NYPD sources. The victim, Lelawattie “Aunty Sita” Narine, 52, had been declared cancer-free just months before the tragedy, turning what should have been a triumphant chapter into a family’s worst nightmare. As Bohler’s 45 prior arrests come under fresh scrutiny, the case is reigniting debates over New York’s revolving-door justice system and the dangers it poses to everyday folks.

The fatal crash unfolded on the evening of July 21, near the intersection of 114th Street and Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill, Queens. Narine, a beloved neighborhood fixture known for her warm smile and resilience, was crossing the street when a motorcycle barreled into her at high speed around 8:35 p.m. Witnesses described a chaotic scene: the rider, later identified as Bohler, fleeing without a glance back as Narine lay mortally wounded on the pavement. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where doctors pronounced her dead from severe head and body trauma. “She fought cancer like a warrior, only to be taken like this—it’s senseless,” her devastated son, Vish, told reporters outside the family home, a modest two-story where Narine had raised her kids after immigrating from Guyana decades ago.

Bohler, a Queens native with a history of run-ins dating back to his teens, wasn’t hard to track down—he was already cooling his heels at Rikers Island for the unrelated machete mayhem. That earlier bust stemmed from a February 20 incident in a Jamaica deli, where Bohler allegedly went berserk during a dispute, swinging a blade that severed two fingers from a 28-year-old victim’s hand. Cops collared him days later, charging him with assault, menacing, and weapon possession. But it was forensic sleuthing that linked him to the hit-and-run: Surveillance video captured the motorcycle’s plate, tying it to Bohler, and DNA from a discarded helmet matched his profile. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the charges Saturday, calling the act “callous and cowardly.” Bohler, appearing via video link for his arraignment, entered a not guilty plea; bail was denied, keeping him caged until a November court date.

Narine’s story adds a heartbreaking layer to the tragedy. The 52-year-old, affectionately called “Aunty Sita” by locals, had endured a grueling battle with breast cancer, completing chemotherapy and radiation just six months prior. Declared in remission in April, she was relishing her second chance—planning family trips and volunteering at her Hindu temple—when fate intervened. “She was the glue holding us together,” Vish said, fighting tears as neighbors draped the family’s porch in white ribbons. A GoFundMe for funeral costs surged past $20,000 in hours, with donors sharing tales of Narine’s kindness: baking roti for block parties, tutoring kids in math. Her death marks Queens’ 18th pedestrian fatality this year, spotlighting the borough’s traffic woes amid Vision Zero’s stalled progress.

Bohler’s criminal odyssey is a textbook case of recidivism run amok. NYPD records show 45 arrests since 2010, spanning drug possession, robbery, assault, and weapons charges—many reduced or dismissed in plea deals. In 2018, he did time for a gun bust; by 2022, he was nabbed for slashing a rival in a bar fight. Critics like Staten Island Assemblyman Michael Tannousis blasted the system: “45 arrests? This guy’s a walking red flag—how many chances do we give before someone dies?” The machete case, still pending trial, drew outrage when Bohler was initially released on $50,000 bail, only to violate probation with the hit-and-run. DA Katz, in a fiery presser, vowed to “hold him accountable,” pushing for max sentences: up to 15 years for manslaughter if convicted.

The incident has reignited calls for tougher bail reform rollbacks, with Mayor Eric Adams citing it in a Sunday speech: “Repeat offenders like this are why we’re pushing for change—innocent lives hang in the balance.” Advocacy groups like Transportation Alternatives echoed the sentiment, noting Queens’ 25% spike in hit-and-runs since 2023, often tied to unlicensed or recidivist drivers. Bohler’s motorcycle, impounded post-crash, lacked valid registration, adding vehicular violations to his rap sheet.

Community response has been swift and somber. At a vigil Sunday night outside Narine’s home, over 100 mourners lit candles and chanted Hindu prayers, her photo framed by marigolds. “She survived cancer but not our streets—something’s broken,” said neighbor Raj Singh, a sentiment amplified on social media. X posts under #JusticeForSita surged, with users tagging Gov. Kathy Hochul and demanding stricter sentencing. Reddit’s r/nyc thread exploded: “45 arrests? NYC’s catch-and-release is killing us,” one top comment read, garnering 2,000 upvotes.

Bohler’s defense? His public attorney declined comment, but court docs paint him as a product of the system—raised in foster care, battling addiction since teens. A 2022 psych eval noted “impulse control issues,” but advocates like the Legal Aid Society argue over-policing in low-income areas inflates arrest counts without addressing root causes. Still, for Narine’s kin, it’s cold comfort: “He had 45 chances—we had one mom,” Vish said.

As Bohler’s cases converge—machete trial set for January—the spotlight intensifies on NYC’s crime conundrum. With pedestrian deaths up 10% citywide, and repeat offenders in 40% of fatal crashes per DOT data, the hit-and-run is a stark reminder of systemic lapses. Katz’s office, prosecuting both, aims for consecutive terms, but skeptics fear another plea bargain. For now, Bohler rots at Rikers, while Queens buries a survivor who deserved more time.

Narine’s funeral is slated for Wednesday at a local mandir, with donations pouring in for her grandkids’ education. In a city that never sleeps, her story is a wake-up call—will it finally jolt change, or become another statistic? Stay tuned as the wheels of justice grind on.