A troubled teenage girl, accused of attacking her mother’s boyfriend, returned home in Staten Island on Monday after school. Upon arrival, she stumbled upon her older brother covered in blood and reportedly said to him, “You did something bad, go to your room,” according to an official.
She then made her way into the house, following a trail of blood to the bathroom, where she discovered a 45-year-old New York City sanitation worker in the bathtub with a severe head injury and a knife embedded in her head, the official stated.
After the grim discovery, the girl called 911.
When the police arrived, the 19-year-old suspect exited the house with his hands raised and was taken into custody. Authorities later confirmed the victim’s presence inside the home, though her identity remained unverified at that time.
Officials noted a history of reported incidents within the family, although it’s unclear if the siblings share biological ties.
While the teenager was hospitalized, as of Tuesday morning, no charges had been filed against him. Reports indicate he has no previous criminal history, but there are records of mental health issues, including schizophrenia and self-harm, dating back to 2022. His name has not been released.
The victim’s close friend, Luis Ortiz, shared that the sanitation worker had been in a relationship with the suspect’s mother for nearly six years, stating that there had been “ups and downs” in the dynamics with her children.
Ortiz described the murder suspect as “very kind” but acknowledged his longstanding mental health challenges in school.
Neighbor Mariano Castro, 36, commented that the relationship between the victim and the suspect’s mother seemed typical, recalling a recent moment when he saw the two together mowing the lawn and grilling in their backyard.
