A Long Island teenager, aged 15, is facing serious charges including murder and attempted murder. The charges stem from a violent incident in which he allegedly killed his grandmother and attacked his mother with a knife. The Suffolk County Police Department reports that the incident took place in the family’s Selden home and was triggered by a dispute over undisclosed content found on the teenager’s computer.
The teenager’s mother, 36-year-old Vanessa Chendemi, managed to escape the horrifying situation after her son stabbed her multiple times around 9:45 p.m. She was able to flag down a passing motorist, who stopped to help her, and she called 911 from the motorist’s vehicle.
Upon reaching the residence at 802 Old Town Road, police found the lifeless body of the boy’s grandmother, 56-year-old Concetta Chendemi. She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was declared dead at the scene.
Local residents were shocked by the violent crime. They described Concetta as a hardworking and kind-hearted woman who held two jobs, one at a Yaphank laundromat and another in the bakery department of a ShopRite in Port Jefferson. A neighbor remembered her as a friendly and upbeat woman, despite her long working hours. The neighbor also expressed disbelief at the motive behind the brutal crime, questioning how someone could harm a person who worked tirelessly to provide for them.
Dominic Iadanza, a 28-year-old coworker from the ShopRite bakery, was deeply affected by the tragic news. He described Concetta as a genuinely kind person who was always willing to lend a hand.
Vanessa Chendemi, who suffered multiple stab wounds to her face, arm, back, and neck, was transported to a local hospital. She is currently in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
The teenage suspect, whose identity has not been released due to his age, fled the scene after the stabbings. Police apprehended him less than half a mile away near Dare Road and Buckskin Lane in Selden around 11:22 p.m. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday. The Suffolk County Police Department reported that there had been no previous incidents of domestic violence at the residence.