Five Family Members Die in Murder-Suicide in New York, USA, After Mother’s Death as They Plan to Sell Home
In a tragic turn of events, five family members lost their lives in a murder-suicide incident in Nassau County on Sunday, August 25. The devastating event occurred just days after the death of the family’s matriarch, as the family was preparing to sell their home.
The victims were all shot dead in the residence located on Wyoming Court in Syosset. The suspected gunman, believed to be the son who lived in the home with his late mother, reportedly took his own life on the front lawn, according to a report by Newsday.
Mary Macaluso, a local real estate agent, shared that she was scheduled to meet with the family at the home around noon, but by the time she arrived, authorities had already closed off the street. “The mom just passed away, and they were in the process of selling the house,” Macaluso said.
She mentioned that the family had gathered for the funeral, and one of the children had asked her to help them understand what needed to be done before listing the house, which was estimated to be worth nearly $900,000 on Zillow. The sale was to be expedited, as two family members had traveled from Florida for the funeral and were planning to return soon.
The homeowner, identified as Theresa Martha DeLucia, had passed away earlier that week at the age of 95, according to her obituary.
“It appears to be a murder-suicide,” stated Patrick Ryder, Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department, at the scene. “We know that the individual found on the front lawn shot and killed himself.”
Ryder later informed News12 that investigators believe DeLucia’s adult son, who lived in the house, was deeply upset over the impending sale of the home and took the lives of four family members before turning the gun on himself.
A neighbor, who resided across the street from the mother and son, revealed to The Post that the man had struggled with mental health issues and was devastated by his mother’s death and the prospect of losing the house where he had lived his entire life.