Woman Found Guilty Of Murdering LI Man, Trying To Steal His Home: DA

AQUEBOGUE, NY — A Central Islip woman was found guilty in the murder of an Aquebogue man in March, 2020 and forging the victim’s will in an attempt to inherit his estate, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray TIerney said Tuesday.

Evidence at trial established that the body of Lee Pedersen, 69, who had died to a single gunshot at the back of his head, was discovered in his Aquebogue home on March 8, 2020, prosecutors said.

Donatila O’Mahony, 42, was convicted for her involvement in Pedersen’s murder, forging Pedersen’s will and attempting to steal one of the homes he owned, Tierney said.

Evidence included the testimony of friends of O’Mahony, who she convinced to sign the forged will as witnesses, Tierney said.

O'Mahony was convicted by the jury on all charges, including second-degree murder; second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument; and second-degree attempted grand larceny, Tierney said. She faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison, he said.

Several items, including Pedersen’s phone and cash, were missing from the home, prosecutors said. The police investigation, including interviews with several of Pedersen’s friends and O'Mahony, as well as the recovery of surveillance video and the review of cell phone cell sites and records, revealed that she was responsible for his murder, Tierney said.

According to evidence included at the trial, in 2019 O’Mahony asked a friend to purchase two handguns for her, a Glock .9 mm and a Sig Sauer .9 mm, in NJ to use for the murder, Tierney said. She borrowed the friend’s car and was captured on video surveillance in the area of Pedersen’s home on the night of the murder, he added.

When O’Mahony returned several hours later following the murder, she asked the friend to dispose of several items, including the Sig Sauer handgun he had purchased for her, ammunition, and clothes, the DA said.

After returning to NJ, the friend destroyed the handgun and disposed of the clothes but kept the plastic bag of ammunition in his home, Tierney said. After the bag was recovered by the police, it was swabbed for DNA, prosecutors said. Analysis by forensic scientists at the Suffolk County crime laboratory revealed the presence of both O’Mahony’s and Pedersen's DNA, the DA said.

The trial was heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei. O’Mahony is represented by Ira Weissman; Weissman was not immediately available for comment.

She is due back in court for sentencing on February 28.

“O'Mahony befriended the victim and then deliberately set out to steal his estate. The jury has found this defendant guilty and hopefully the victim’s loved ones will now have a small measure of justice knowing his killer will be held responsible for her actions," Tierney said.

According to Gas Engine Magazine, Pedersen was a "lifetime engine enthusiast," associated with the Long Island Antique Power Association in Riverhead.