Body Of 74-Year-Old Grandmother Found, Suspect Arrested: NYC Crime

Police announced on Saturday that Lashawn Mackey, 47, a Brooklyn man has been accused with killing an Upper West Side grandmother. Previously serving as the building's temporary superintendent was the man suspected of killing a grandmother in her Upper West Side apartment, prosecutors revealed at the suspect's first court appearance on Sunday.

Based on the reports, Mackey once served 20 years in prison for gutting a man. The suspect was arrested in the brutal murder of a 74-year-old grandmother, Maria Hernandez, who was found beaten and bound in her Upper West Side apartment, according to reports.

Mackey wasn't detained until Saturday, three days after Maria Hernandez was discovered face down in a pile of clothes in her apartment on W. 83rd St. near Columbus Ave. with her wrists and feet bound and a gag shoved in her mouth. About an hour after the two had gone to a Broadway matinee and had an early dinner, Hernandez was found dead by her younger sister.

Despite it being unclear what was taken, police suspect the deceased was killed during a robbery. Hernandez's cause of death was later determined by an autopsy to be "homicidal asphyxia including compression of neck," according to a spokesman for the city Medical Examiner.

On Saturday morning, police said Mackey was arrested at his Bergen St. residence in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was accused of two charges of burglary as well as murder and attempted murder.

“I’m innocent. I’m innocent. Tell them to prove themselves,” he told reporters outside the precinct. “Look for the DNA results at the scene of the crime. Ask them for it.”

Hernandez was a Dominican immigrant who left behind three daughters, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild who was just one year old, his grieving relatives told the Daily News.

"She was an excellent human being, a wonderful lady," said her 72-year-old sister Maria Tirredo, who found her sibling’s body three hours after the two said their goodbyes. "She’s kind, loving, caring. Everything you can imagine a nice person would be," reports yahoofinance.

Tirredo resides in a different apartment within the W. 83rd St. building. After receiving a call from her niece, who said she couldn't reach her mother, she went to check on her sister.

Hernandez's bedroom drawers appear to have been searched through by Mackey, although it was not immediately obvious if anything was taken. Police think she died during the robbery.

Hernandez's residence had no traces of being broken into, indicating that she knew the assailant. However, a relative claimed that Mackey is unknown to the family.

The building manager claimed that a crowbar was used to break into the basement and remove a DVR with security footage.

“Despite any connection that they say they have regarding Mr. Mackey’s employment at the building, there does not appear to be any victim surveillance in this case that actually would show Mr. Mackey on the third floor where they’re saying this happened,” said attorney Jessica Horani.

The hearing ended with Mackey being detained without bail.