The Queens drug addict accused of killing both his parents 15 months apart callously tried to claim that DNA evidence against him was nothing more than a remnant of his doting mom’s affection for him, prosecutors said.
“Funny that you found DNA now, where did you find it — under her fingernails? My mother likes to run her fingers through my hair,” cocky alleged killer Gregory Cucchiara told detectives as they questioned him in the murder of his mother, Guisepina.
The chilling statement was read in Queens Supreme Court today as Cucchiara, 36, pleaded not guilty to killing both Guisepina, 66, in May 2011 and his father, Carmelo, 77, in August 2012.
Ellis Kaplan
Gregory Cuccchiara
Cucchiara — whose lengthy rap sheet includes DWI and disorderly conduct convictions — made the comment about his mother while in custody for killing his dad.
In court today, Cucchiara’s lawyer, Michael Anastsiou, entered the guilty pleas on his behalf in front of several weeping and disgusted family members.
The alleged killer scowled at his relatives as Assistant District Attorney Patrick O’Connor read from Cucchiara’s oral and written police statements.
Cucchiara claimed he’d gone out for a beer and come back to find his mom dead — and tried to pin his father’s death on his brother-in-law.
“I went to purchase beer on Bell Boulevard, and when I came back my mother was dead,” Cucchiara said. “I tried to give her CPR. Our relationship was good, I had nothing to do with her death.”
As for his father’s death, Cucchiara claimed his sister’s husband was the likely killer.
“My brother-in-law watches a lot of ‘CSI’ and knows how to make things look as though they may not really be,” Cucchiara said.
He also told detectives that has father was ill, and “suffering to the point of sudden death.”
That claim was refuted by family friend Michael Ronemus, who said the family was “unaware of any sickness.”
Guisepina Cucchiara was found drowned in a bathtub in the family’s Bayside manse on May 25, 2011. The medical examiner said she died of submersion of her head followed by blunt force trauma to the skull.
Her son continued to live in the family home after the murder.
Carmelo Cucchiara — who had told family members he was afraid of his son and moved into an Astoria apartment — was found dead there on August 21.
Cops found a blood splattered pillow, and the ME said the older man died of asphyxia from obstruction of the nose and mouth.
Gregory Cucchiara was arrested Nov. 13 and is being held without bail on Rikers Island, records show.
In court today, judge Kenneth C. Holder holder denied the accused killer’s bid for bail, citing a history of bench warrants.
Lawyer Anastasiou argued that his client was indicted by a “prejudice grand jury.”
Cucchiara was also indicted for assault against a police lieutenant and detective during an interrogation the day he was arrested.
Alleged parent killer thinks DNA evidence is 'funny,' pleads not guilty
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Alleged parent killer thinks DNA evidence is 'funny,' pleads not guilty
