Son beheads mom, leaves body on street

Police say a professor found decapitated on a suburban New York street was killed by her son, who then committed suicide by walking into the path of an oncoming train.

Nassau County Police Detective Lieutenant John Azzata (uh-ZAH'-tuh) on Wednesday identified the two dead people as 66-year-old Patricia Ward and her 35-year-old son, Derek Ward.

Azzata says Patricia Ward was killed in their Farmingdale, Long Island, apartment and dragged onto the street. Her body was found around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. A knife was recovered in the apartment.

Police say Derek Ward was arrested years ago for gun possession and criminal mischief. He had a psychiatric history going back about 10 years.

Patricia Ward's employer, Farmingdale State College, says she was a popular assistant professor.

A few neighbours who witnessed the drama unfold told the media they could not comprehend the horror of what they had seen. Some thought it was a Halloween prank being played out.

One resident told CBS channel: “You figure, OK, someone is playing a Halloween prank, but for it to turn out to be a reality - wow.”

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