By Connor Adams Sheets
A Flushing woman charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter for allegedly stabbing and suffocating her adult disabled son before attempting to commit suicide last week was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court Monday and ordered held without bail, the Queens district attorney said.
Migdalia Veras, 57, is accused of stabbing her son Rene, 39, twice in the chest and holding a pillow over his face for at least two minutes in her apartment March 2 after the two had a verbal dispute about his medical condition, according to the DA. If she is convicted of the charges, Migdalia faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
Rene suffered from cerebral palsy and was found dead in his bed by police, a police source said. The chief medical examiner ruled that Rene died as a result of stab wounds to his chest and asphyxia.
“This case is just a tragic example of a verbal dispute rapidly escalating into violence and resulting in the needless death of a young man,” DA Richard Brown said. If the charges are true, the defendant must live forever with the knowledge that she is responsible for her own son’s demise.”
Migdalia allegedly followed up the murder by trying to kill herself by slashing her wrists and stabbing herself in the chest, the DA said. She was taken to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens for treatment of the self-inflicted wounds, the DA said.
“She’s in the hospital now and as soon as she’s well enough she’ll be transferred to Rikers.” Helen Peterson, a spokesman for the Queens DA’s office, said Tuesday.
A resident walking near the Veras home at 34-20 137th St. on the evening of the incident said it was not something he would expect to see in the neighborhood.
“People mostly keep to themselves here,” he said. “It’s nice, no one bothers each other. This is really sad to hear.”
Veras is scheduled to appear in court March 21.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
