A Sanitation worker from New York City, who was close to retirement, was reportedly decapitated by his girlfriend’s troubled teenage son in a Staten Island residence on Monday, according to police and informants.
Authorities responded to a disturbing 911 call about a man who had been stabbed—and allegedly beheaded—at a residence on Cary Avenue in West Brighton shortly after 4:20 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the 45-year-old victim with multiple stab wounds on his head and neck, as per the NYPD.
The victim—whose head had been severed from his body, according to sources—was declared dead at the scene by the police.
The 19-year-old son of the victim’s girlfriend was apprehended at the location but has not been formally charged, as per accounts from sources and acquaintances.
This victim was a Department of Sanitation worker forced onto disability leave due to significant vision loss, a close companion shared with The Post outside the cordoned-off residence.
The teenager, known to have a past filled with mental health challenges, allegedly confessed to his younger sister that he “did something bad” when she returned home from school, sources reported.
The sister then uncovered the gruesome scene, walking through several trails of blood to find the 45-year-old decapitated in a bathtub with a knife still embedded in his neck, sources disclosed.
This incident is believed to be domestic in nature, with the family having a documented history of domestic disturbance calls, as per insiders.
On Monday evening, police maintained a significant presence at the one-story home as a number of neighbors gathered across the street.
Close friends of the victim, Louis Ortiz, 47, and Donna Ortiz, 46, rushed to the scene after seeing breaking news of the sanitation worker’s murder on television.
“It’s a crime scene. It’s unbelievable. I can’t wrap my head around seeing my friend’s house on the news. I had to come over immediately to confirm it,” Louis relayed to The Post.
“He didn’t deserve this. He was about to retire and live what remained of his life to the fullest,” Donna lamented regarding their slain friend.
Louis had seen the victim, who has not been publicly named, just a few days prior, assisting him in purchasing a truck for his girlfriend due to his worsening vision loss—which he indicated made the victim considerably more vulnerable.
“This is hard. I just lost a friend… He was so easy-going, a genuinely good individual. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it,” he expressed.
He described the Staten Island resident as “the nicest guy” and a “good soul” with a passion for fishing.
The couple had been in a relationship for nearly six years and had faced challenges with the children involved, he added.
Louis mentioned that the teenage person of interest appeared to be “sweet as pie” and often engaged in video games with Donna’s stepson despite being known to have mental health struggles.
“The boy faced difficulties in school. The mental health situation in our city needs much more attention,” he remarked.
Donna, a medical worker with experience in a psychiatric center, echoed his concerns regarding mental health and noted that the signs of issues had been apparent.
“He would still be alive if the city took mental health seriously,” she said of their friend.
Neighbor Mariano Castro, 36, conveyed to The Post that he had never perceived any issues between the victim and the girlfriend’s son, noting a recent sighting of them together mowing the lawn and barbecuing in the backyard.
“I never saw any signs of conflict; it’s just shocking. That’s all I can say,” remarked the visibly shaken construction worker.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Additional reporting by Larry Celona.
