A 19-year-old in New York, who has been arrested for allegedly murdering and decapitating his stepfather, reportedly uttered a chilling remark to his younger sister.
The 45-year-old victim, a New York City sanitation worker, was found dead in a bathtub with multiple stab wounds to his head and neck. His head was reportedly severed from his body, leaving neighbors and loved ones in shock.
Police responded to a 911 call to a Staten Island home just after 4:20PM, arriving to find the victim dead at the scene.
The Incident And Chilling Remark
The 16-year-old younger sister of the accused allegedly entered the home after school to find a horrific sight — her brother drenched in blood, urging her to go to her room.
According to the New York Post, the alleged killer reportedly told his sister: "I did something bad, go to your room," as she looked on in horror.
She followed bloodstains through the house, eventually discovering the body of the sanitation worker in the bathroom, with a knife still lodged in his neck. She immediately called 911, reporting the gruesome scene to authorities.
Sources confirmed the teenager, 19 years old, was arrested shortly after the authorities arrived, though no charges had been filed as of the following morning, per NBC New York.
Victim Had History of Vision Loss, Increasing Vulnerability
The victim was reportedly nearing retirement after being forced into disability due to severe vision loss.
His close friend Louis Ortiz said he had been helping the victim buy a truck for his girlfriend just days before the murder. Ortiz noted that the victim’s increasing vulnerability made him an easier target for such an attack.
“This didn’t deserve to happen to him. He was just about to retire and live his life as best as he could,” Donna Ortiz, another close friend of the victim, said. “He was easygoing, man. He was a good person. He did anything for anybody. He’d take his shirt off his back and give it to you if you needed it.”
The victim had been in a relationship with the teenage suspect’s mother for nearly six years. While their relationship had its ups and downs, sources said the family had a history of domestic incidents, though it's unclear if the siblings were biologically related.
Troubling Mental Health History: A Tragic Sign of Overlooked Needs
The alleged killer reportedly struggled with significant mental health issues, including schizophrenia and self-harm.
His issues had been apparent for some time, dating back to 2022, and he had reportedly been through a difficult time in school. His mental health struggles were a point of concern for those who knew him, according to reports.
Louis Ortiz, who witnessed the victim’s struggles and personal growth, called attention to the lack of support for mental health services in the city, per the New York Post.
"The boy was always going through stuff in school. Mental health issues. The city got to do more with mental health,” Louis Ortiz said, echoing the sentiments of his wife, Donna. As a medical worker, Donna Ortiz stressed that the signs of his mental health decline were evident.
“He’d be alive right now if the city dealt with mental health,” she said.