Couple 'stabbed to death by mentally ill son, 46,' named as neighbours mourn

22 January 2024 , 10:43

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An elderly couple were stabbed to death in New York on Saturday (Image: ABC 7)

An elderly couple who were allegedly stabbed to death by their mentally ill son inside their home in New York City have been pictured for the first time.

A photo shared by US media shows Jacob and Rachel Sperber, both 75, sharing a quiet moment, sitting next to each other on a subway train, before being tragically killed over the weekend. The couple were stabbed in their Borough Park home at around 5.20pm local time on Saturday.

The 46-year-old son they cared for was taken into custody but his identity has not been confirmed by the police yet. The Sperbers were taken to Maimonides Medical Center and were pronounced dead.

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The suspect was arrested and is in custody (ABC 7)

Neighbour Ruhda Rosenberg said she got scared and rushed to the scene "very fast" to see what was happening. Another neighbour said: "We all feel that it's a terrible tragedy that happened here. No words to describe. Very painful."

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Shmial Weiss, who lives in Borough Park, told CBS: "A Jewish person killed his parents. This has nothing to do with us. Everyone is shaken. Every human person is shaken from such a story. No one stands for such a story. We have a lot of mental health. We have a lot of, you can just go down the block, you can see the help. But not everyone wants to be helped." An onlooker also shared with ABC News: "I know the parents were very special. This is ridiculous."

Neighbours said the suspect is the couple's 46-year-old son (ABC 7)

Neighbours described the suspect as "sometimes depressed, sometimes high", reported the New York Post. Family friends said his parents took him back in recently to help his battles with mental illness.

Local resident Shlomo Antin said his father was "a very special person from a different generation" - and many knew him. Criminal charges have not yet been filed and the police investigation is ongoing.

Chiara Fiorillo