New York City police are investigating a violent crime in which a 77-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman were stabbed and set on fire in their Queens home. Authorities reported that the suspect entered the victims’ residence after requesting to charge his phone. Once inside, he attacked both individuals before setting the house ablaze.
According to sources, the suspect approached the victims’ home after earlier being turned away by a neighbor while asking to charge a cell phone. Surveillance footage showed him knocking on the back door of the Bellerose residence around 10:15 a.m., with the 77-year-old victim opening the door and allowing him in. Detectives believe the suspect remained in the home for approximately five hours, allegedly searching for valuables before committing the attack.
The woman was found on the first floor, with accelerant applied to her body to ignite the fire. The man was discovered in the basement, bound with bungee cords to a structural column. He too was set on fire, though the flames reportedly extinguished themselves. Forensic evidence recovered from the scene is being analyzed for potential matches to the suspect’s prior arrests.
No further details about the suspect’s identity or motive have been released at this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.