On Wednesday, police say they arrested a Williston Park man after a vicious attack on his 75-year-old mother inside her Broad Street home. The son, 37-year-old John Strano, is accused of beating her so badly that prosecutors have hit him with attempted murder and multiple assault charges. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.
The attack, according to police
According to Law & Crime, prosecutors say a verbal argument inside the home exploded into violence. Strano allegedly shoved his mother to the ground, then repeatedly slammed her head into the floor, punched her in the face, choked her, and hit her with a blunt metal object. In court, prosecutors said that object was a metal clamp and that investigators reported hearing Strano yell, "Why are you still breathing?" as the assault unfolded. Officers later found Strano nearby, arrested him without incident, and brought both him and his mother to local hospitals for evaluation, the outlet reports.
Charges and court appearance
As reported by Daily Voice, Strano is charged with second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Daily Voice notes that the victim suffered lacerations and swelling to her face and head, briefly lost consciousness, and was then transported to the hospital. The outlet also reports that Strano entered a not guilty plea at his initial court appearance.
What the charges carry
Under New York law, attempted murder in the second degree is classified as a Class B violent felony, while assault in the second degree is generally a Class D felony, both of which can bring substantial prison time if there is a conviction. The state Penal Law also treats using a weapon or causing serious physical injury as factors that can raise potential penalties, according to N.Y. Penal Law.
Why it matters
Advocates say violence against older adults often happens out of sight and off the books; the Under the Radar New York State elder-abuse study found that actual mistreatment of elders far outpaced officially documented cases, underscoring big gaps in detection and reporting. The research has been cited by local agencies that are trying to strengthen multidisciplinary responses to protect older New Yorkers.
What happens next
Strano remains behind bars while Nassau County prosecutors continue building the case; he is scheduled to return to court for additional proceedings, according to Law & Crime. The Nassau County Police Department and the district attorney's office did not immediately offer further details in the early coverage of the case.
Help and resources
If you suspect elder abuse in New York, the state Adult Protective Services helpline is 1-844-697-3505, according to the New York State Office for the Aging. For immediate domestic-violence support, New York's 24-hour hotline is 1-800-942-6906, and chat or text options are listed by the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
