A 42-year-old Patchogue man has been indicted after prosecutors say he crawled through an unlocked window into his former partner’s home and repeatedly stabbed her 22-year-old son as the family slept. The young man survived the early morning attack and was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital with multiple stab wounds that required numerous staples, according to authorities.
Indictment, charges and courtroom timeline
Robert Schreiber was arraigned on April 30 on a multi-count indictment that includes attempted murder in the second degree, first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted assault and several related charges, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Justice John B. Collins set bail at $100,000 cash or $1,000,000 bond. Schreiber, who is represented by attorney Ira Weissman, is scheduled to return to court on May 28.
"This was a violent attack on a young man in his own home," District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said, calling the case an example of how "domestic violence does not always end when a relationship does," according to the office. Investigators say they recovered the knife used in the assault, and the case has been assigned to the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.
How authorities say it unfolded
Prosecutors say the incident followed a breakup on April 17. The next morning, Schreiber allegedly returned to the Patchogue residence, climbed in through an unlocked window around 8 a.m., kicked in the victim’s bedroom door and stabbed him seven times, according to Patch and local reporting.
Family members rushed in and called 911, giving the victim a chance to escape to the downstairs area of the home, prosecutors say. Officers arrived and arrested Schreiber at the scene, where they say they also found the knife in his possession.
Legal exposure and next steps
Schreiber faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. The indictment also includes misdemeanor counts of weapon possession and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Tampa Free Press. He remains held on the bail set by Justice Collins, and prosecutors say the case will continue through the Suffolk County court calendar later this month.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, resources are available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at thehotline.org or 1-800-799-7233. Criminal charges are accusations, and Schreiber is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
