14-Year-Old Raped And Slashed Mom In Front Of Child In LI Burglary: DA

MASTIC BEACH, NY — A teen is accused of viciously attacking a woman in her home, raping her in front of her 4-year-old daughter, and then using a switchblade to slash her forehead and chest during a home invasion in broad daylight in Mastic Beach last month, authorities said Tuesday.

The 14-year-old, whose name has not been released, and an accomplice still at large are accused of breaking into a home through a kitchen window after waiting for one of its residents to drive away, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

While searching for items to steal, the duo found a locked bedroom door "and kicked it in to gain entry," finding the toddler and her 23-year-old mother, whom they forced to unlock her cell phone, Tierney said.

As the accomplice went through the bedroom looking for property to steal, the teen is alleged to have sexually assaulted and choked the mother in front of her daughter, Tierney said, adding, "after some time, she was forced into the hallway, where the sexual assault continued."

When he finished, the teen dragged the mother back into her bedroom and tried to pull her daughter out of the bedroom, but the mother "struggled to stop him" so he left the child on the bed, instead taking the mother into another bedroom where he "pulled out a switchblade, showed it to her, then slashed her across her head and forehead," according to Tierney.

The mother was then stabbed in the left, upper-chest area, he said, adding that both the teen and his accomplice ran away.

The mother was treated at Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, according to police.

She received stitches and staples to her head and face, as well as stitches to her chest area, and additional medical treatment, Tierney said.

Tierney said that "aside from the extreme violence of the criminal activity," what makes the case "so shocking is the age of the defendant accused of committing such callous and violent crimes.”

“It is becoming increasingly common to hear of violent cases like this involving minors as the perpetrators of such vicious acts," he said. "Despite this, we will make sure justice is served. Those responsible for this horrific attack on the victim and her child will be called to answer to the law and they will be held accountable.”

Tierney made the announcement at his office in Hauppauge along with Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.

Two days after the home invasion, on April 21, the teen admitted taking part in the burglary while he was being interviewed by the police and was charged with first-degree burglary, according to Tierney. He consented to a DNA swab, which Suffolk's Crime Laboratory later matched to a profile developed from a swab of the victim, Tierney said.

Police previously declined to comment about rumors that an arrest had been made in the case.

The teen was indicted on April 27 and has been charged with first-degree rape, criminal sexual act, and sexual abuse, as well as two counts of first-degree assault and burglary. He was additionally charged with one count of second-degree strangulation, and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arraigned in Suffolk County Youth Court before Judge Karen Kerr on Tuesday, and has been remanded without bail. He is due back in court on June 2.

The investigation is ongoing.

After the attack, the pair made off with cash and other property, according to police.

Suffolk police initially described one as wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants with a white stripe, while the second was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants. In a previous news conference, Harrison described the suspects as possibly in their teens or early 20s.

For video of the suspects, click here or go to YouTube.com/scpdtv and choose "Wanted for Sexual Assault/Burglary CC 22-224883."

Harrison also said the department was devoting a lot of resources to apprehending the pair responsible for the attack, describing it as "a horrible incident."

Detective Lt. Dylan Friedlander said in the same news conference that the mother was recovering in the hospital with "non-life-threatening injuries."

Anyone with information about the case can call detectives at 631-852-8791 or Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at 800-220-TIPS.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 Fast Cash reward for information leading to arrests in the case. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.