A 14-year-old has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting a young mother in front of her 4-year-old daughter in her Long Island home before stabbing her. The teenage suspect was indicted Tuesday on charges including “rape, criminal sexual act, assault, burglary, sexual abuse, strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child,” CBS News said.
The teen – whose name was not disclosed – is accused of breaking into a Mastic Beach home on April 19 with an accomplice and sexually assaulting and strangling a 23-year-old mother in front of her 4-year-old daughter, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office alleges.
They say she was forced into the hallway, where the attack continued.
The suspect then dragged the struggling victim back into the room, then brought her to another bedroom where he pulled out a switchblade. Officials said the suspect showed the weapon to the victim, then slashed her across head and stabbed her in the chest.
The mother ran after the stabbing and was treated at a nearby hospital where she received multiple stitches and staples to her head, face and chest area.
“Aside from the extreme violence of the criminal activity, what makes this case so shocking is the age of the defendant who is accused of committing such callous and violent crimes,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “It is becoming increasingly common to hear of violent cases like this involving minors as the perpetrators of such vicious acts.”
Prosecutors say that the teen confessed to the burglary and submitted his DNA which matched DNA found on the victim.
The teenaged suspect was remanded without bail and remains in custody. Police are still searching for the accomplice.
