DA: 14-year-old arrested in rape, burglary of Mastic Beach mother

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says the 23-year-old mother was protecting her 4-year-old child when she was stabbed in the chest and slashed across her head.

News 12 Staff

May 3, 2022, 4:27 PM

Updated 953 days ago

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A 14-year-old has been arrested in the rape and burglary of a woman at her Mastic Beach home, according to the district attorney.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says the 23-year-old mother was protecting her 4-year-old child when she was stabbed in the chest and slashed across her head.
The teenage suspect and another man allegedly broke into the woman's home through a kitchen window on April 19 at 3:15 p.m.
Tierney says the victim heard noises downstairs, but assumed it was her husband coming home early from work.
While looking for items to steal, the two suspects found a locked bedroom door with the mother and her daughter inside.
That's when the mother was allegedly sexually assaulted and choked in front of her daughter.
Neighbors say they saw the victim after the incident occurred.
"She was bleeding from her head and her chest," says Dennis Naughton, of Mastic Beach. "So I brought her on the deck and got some towels and called 911."
The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The teen was arrested two days after the incident on unrelated​ charges and admitted to the crime.
Police took a DNA sample from the defendant, and it was determined that it matched that of what was taken from the victim after the sexual assault.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison says the public played a big role in the arrest after police released the surveillance video from a nearby home.
"We received numerous calls to our Crime Stoppers Hotline, this helped up to identify our perpetrator in a timely manner," Harrison says.
The teen suspect was arraigned at Suffolk Youth Court on Tuesday.
He faces five to 10 years behind bars.
He remains in custody and is due back in court on June 2.
The other suspect who was with the 14-year-old is still on the loose.