A Brooklyn man was taken into custody yesterday, according to law enforcement, after a grim discovery in Cypress Hills: a 66-year-old woman and her 91-year-old father found slain in their home. Kerry Lewis, 46, faces charges of murder and weapon possession. ABC7 New York and New York Daily News both reported that Roosevelt Simmons and Jacqueline Delyons were found with their throats slashed.
It was on a Sunday when a family visitor stumbled upon the bodies on the kitchen floor and encountered the suspect, now charged, in the hallway. He allegedly told her, "You know what happened," a detail conveyed by a police source to New York Daily News. Lewis, who has three prior arrests, was quickly to be brought into police custody and charged.
The community has been left reeling from the unexpected violence. Delyons, remembered for her religious dedication and Scripture writing moments before the tragedy, and her stepfather Simmons, noted for his friendly demeanor, were described as "sweet people" by Ramon Berghout, Delyons' ex-boyfriend and father of her son, in an interview with New York Daily News. Berghout recollected that Simmons was "a sweet old country guy, watching sports," and Delyons was "very into the Bible, very religious."
Neighbors expressed their disbelief over the incident, with one likening the shock to what people "only see on TV and in the movies." According to New York Daily News, Eric Brooks, Simmons' grandson, mentioned that the family was completely at loss for words regarding the motivations behind the crime. Daryl Moorer, a family friend, described Simmons as "a great person." Emily Rannarase, another neighbor, remembered Delyons as a kind woman who would feed stray cats, emphasizing the gentle nature of the victims and the sense of safety in their neighborhood.
No court date for Lewis had been set at the time of reporting. The motive for the killings remains unclear as police continue their investigation.
