Man Accused of Drowning His Mother Reportedly Harms Himself in Jail

A Cold Spring Harbor man who faces second-degree murder charges for drowning his mother in their family pool in August was reportedly hospitalized Sunday morning.

Denis D. Cullen Jr., 23, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital to be treated for self-inflicted wounds after he tried to harm himself, a Suffolk County jail representative told Newsday.

Cullen pleaded not guilty on Aug. 30 to killing his mother. He was arrested Aug. 17 after Lloyd Harbor Police officers responded to a White Hill Road home at 4 p.m. to check on the welfare of 63-year-old Elizabeth Cullen, police say.

The woman was found dead in the backyard, police say.

Cullen told police in a recorded statement that he argued with his mother over him not taking his medication and he drowned her in their backyard swimming pool, the DA says.

Cullen, who has no criminal record, hid his mother’s body in a shed, covered it with a dinghy and took a train to Manhattan to confess the murder to his sister, NBC reports.

A judge remanded Cullen to county jail without bail. A court conference is planned for September 28.

Image via SCPD