Daughter of NYC police officer killed in the line of duty legally recognized

ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC) — The daughter of a New York City policeman is now legally his daughter even though she was born three years after he died.

On Saturday, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation S.4350-A/A.7028 to make it official.

On Dec. 20, 2014, Detective Wenjian Liu was murdered in his vehicle while on duty. Through the use of in-vitro fertilization, his wife, Pei Xia Chen, gave birth to their daughter, Angelina, three years after his death.

In this case, the Social Security Administration considers the child non-marital and refers to state law. The bill the governor signed will ensure that Angelina is considered Detective Liu’s child for purposes of New York’s Estates, Powers and Trusts Law, and therefore can be named his heir to receive benefits and any other rights and privileges to which she is entitled.