N.Y. man indicted for 'near-decapitation' of mother who died in machete attack
01/13/2022 1:58 pm PST
QUEENS, N.Y. (TCD) -- A 46-year-old man was indicted on murder charges for allegedly killing his mother in a machete attack in February 2021.
On Feb. 21, 2021, the New York Police Department announced Osvaldo Diaz was wanted because he was "believed to have slashed a 78-year-old female victim who later succumbed to her injuries." On Jan. 12, NYPD tweeted that Diaz had been arrested and charged.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office released a statement Thursday, Jan. 13, announcing Diaz was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz wrote, "The defendant allegedly attacked his mother with a machete — to the point of near-decapitation. This outburst of violence has devastated the victim’s family, which includes her other six children. The defendant fled the state but was apprehended and extradited to Queens."
According to the announcement, Diaz is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Osvaldo Diaz lived with his mother Maria Diaz in an apartment above a beauty salon. The District Attorney’s Office says on Feb. 24, 2021, Osvaldo’s sister planned on running some errands with their mother. She went to the apartment and called Maria several times, but she did not answer. Osvaldo reportedly picked up and "told her to go to the store."
Osvaldo’s sister reportedly left and surveillance footage reportedly showed him leaving the building. The sister returned and called again, but no one answered. She reportedly got the property manager to let her in the building and found her mother "bleeding and wrapped in bedding."
Maria Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene. Osvaldo reportedly fled to New Jersey but was apprehended and eventually extradited to New York.
According to NBC New York, Osvaldo’s attorney Jose Nieves said he pleaded not guilty. Nieves reportedly requested a psychiatric evaluation for Osvaldo.
If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
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