Hunting 4 Answers: One Timeline, Conflicting Accounts: D'Nazia "Nay" Uzzle

Summary of Hunting 4 Answers: One Timeline, Conflicting Accounts: D'Nazia "Nay" Uzzle

by The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts

5m•September 26, 2026
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Overview of Hunting 4 Answers: One Timeline, Conflicting Accounts: D'Nazia "Nay" Uzzle

This episode of Hunting for Answers examines the death of 17-year-old D'Nazia “Nay” Uzzle, a New London, Connecticut high school senior whose case has unfolded through conflicting witness statements, forensic evidence, and court proceedings. The episode traces the events of the night she died, the differing accounts given by those inside the home, and the legal outcomes so far.

What Happened

  • On the night of April 14, 2023, D'Nazia attended a party in New London.
  • She later encountered her former boyfriend, Nishan Cherry, and the two took a rideshare to the home he shared with his mother, Erica Cherry, on Jefferson Avenue.
  • According to investigators and court records, D'Nazia and Nishan went upstairs to a bedroom, where an argument began after he said she saw a message on his phone to another girl.
  • The situation escalated, and the people in the house later gave different accounts of what happened next.

Conflicting Accounts

Nishan Cherry’s version

  • He told investigators that D'Nazia bit his lip during the argument.
  • He said he held her down on the bed.
  • When Erica came upstairs, Nishan claimed she pulled D'Nazia by her hair and dragged her downstairs.
  • He later said he moved D'Nazia to a couch in a bear hug, noticed she was gasping and “out of it,” and gave her water before she went limp.

Erica Cherry’s version

  • Erica told investigators that she and her son brought D'Nazia downstairs.
  • She said D'Nazia picked up a knife and stabbed both her and Nishan.

Physical evidence

  • Police said Erica and Nishan were both treated for non-life-threatening stab wounds.
  • Court records indicate the knife recovered from the home contained DNA from D'Nazia, Erica Cherry, and Nishan Cherry.

Medical Findings and Cause of Death

  • First responders found D'Nazia unresponsive and she was taken to the hospital.
  • She was later pronounced dead.
  • The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.
  • Her cause of death was listed as neck compression with blunt force injuries contributing.

Legal Outcome So Far

  • In September 2023, authorities arrested Erica Cherry and Nishan Cherry in connection with D'Nazia’s death.
  • Their cases later split:
    • Erica Cherry later took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to:
      • Accessory to manslaughter
      • Intentional cruelty to persons
    • She was sentenced to five years in prison.
  • Nishan Cherry has pleaded not guilty.
  • As of the episode, his case is still pending and he remains free on $250,000 bond.

Family Impact and Broader Takeaway

  • D'Nazia’s mother, Kimberly Uzzle, said the punishment for Erica did not go far enough.
  • The episode emphasizes that more than three years later, D'Nazia’s death continues to weigh heavily on her family and loved ones.
  • The show frames the case as one where the truth is still being contested in court, despite a homicide ruling and partial legal resolution.

Key Points

  • D'Nazia Uzzle was a 17-year-old senior with her whole future ahead of her.
  • Her death involved multiple conflicting accounts from the people present.
  • The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
  • Erica Cherry has been sentenced, while Nishan Cherry’s case remains unresolved.
  • The episode is a reminder of how many questions can remain even when a case has already gone to court.