Bronx DA: Bronx Man Sentenced To 15 Years To Life In Prison For Killing Aunt

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING AUNT IN HER APARTMENT

Victim Had Stab Wounds, Fractures; Defendant Disposed of Body In Manhattan

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree Murder in the killing of his aunt.

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant brutally beat and stabbed his aunt, a 69-year-old woman who had breathing issues and used an oxygen tank. After he killed her, he disposed of the victim’s body behind a Harlem building. I hope today’s sentence brings some justice for the victim’s family.”

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Andros Topping, 39, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree Murder on September 12, 2018.

According to the investigation, between April 23, 2016 and May 3, 2016, at 1295 Grand Concourse, the defendant caused the death of Patricia Meyers by sharp blunt force trauma and stab wounds. The defendant was released on parole on April 18, 2016, and was seen in surveillance video entering the victim’s residence on April 23, 2016. The next day, the defendant bought garbage bags to conceal the body. Video footage showed the defendant leaving the victim’s apartment with a shopping cart, which is believed to have been carrying the body of his aunt.

After the victim’s family reported her missing, police went to her home and found a bloody crime scene. After an extensive search, the victim’s remains were found on May 3, 2016 at 159-38 Harlem River Drive, Manhattan, behind an apartment building. Her body had multiple fractures, including on her chest, cranium, vertebrae and mandible.

The defendant was located in Manhattan and on May 6, 2016, while he was taken into custody, he assaulted NYPD Detectives Barry Sullivan and Luis Salvador. Detective Salvador suffered a contusion and substantial pain to his left knee and shoulder, while Detective Sullivan suffered a broken rib and substantial pain to his right side torso.

The case was prosecuted by Susanna Imbo, Chief of Trial Bureau 60 under the supervision of James Brennan, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division and Theresa Gottlieb, Chief of the Trial Division, and Christine Scaccia, Chief of the Homicide Bureau. District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Marcos Sanchez, formerly of the 44^th Precinct, for his assistance in the investigation. She also thanked retired NYPD Detective Christopher Skulsky, Lieutenant William Sean O’Toole, and Detectives Barry Sullivan and Luis Salvador, all of the Bronx Homicide Squad.