A Long Island teenager accused of killing his grandmother and seriously wounding his mother earlier this month in a stabbing attack over his laptop has been indicted for murder, officials announced Thursday.
The 15-year-old defendant, whose name has not been released due to his age, was indicted for murder, attempted murder and assault in what Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney called “an exceptionally tragic case that has devastated a family,” according to a news release.
According to Tierney, the teenager is accused of stabbing his grandmother more than 35 times after he allegedly became “infuriated” that his laptop was going to be confiscated.
Investigators said the brutal attack took place inside his mother’s home in Selden on the evening of April 7 after she confronted him about missing classes at school.
During the argument, the defendant’s grandmother, 56-year-old Concetta Chendemi, told his mother, 36-year-old Vanessa Chendemi, to punish the teen by taking away his laptop.
At that point, the teenager allegedly grabbed a knife and began stabbing his grandmother before turning to his mother to attack her, investigators said.
The teen only began attacking his grandmother again after the mother “fell to the ground and played dead,” according to prosecutors.
The older Chendemi was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daugher, the defendant’s mother, was transported to a local hospital to be treated for stab wounds to the face, arm, neck and back.
Vanessa Chendemi remained hospitalized as of Thursday morning, officials said.
“When a child allegedly turns violent against their own family members, it creates layers of trauma that extend far beyond physical injuries,” Tierney said, vowing to “pursue justice for the victims of these horrific acts.”
At his arraignment on Wednesday, Judge Karen Kerr ordered that the defendant be held without bail for the duration of the case.
He is expected back in court on May 21 and could face a life sentence if convicted on the top charge.