Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man is facing 15 years to life in state prison after admitting in Onondaga County Court this morning to intentionally killing his grandmother last year. Paris D. Hart IV, 20, of 602 Mountainview Ave., pleaded guilty before Judge Joseph Fahey to second-degree murder in the death of 67-year-old Nanette Hart. First Chief Assistant District...
Paris D. Hart IVParis D. Hart IV, 20, of 602 Mountainview Ave., pleaded guilty before Judge Joseph Fahey to second-degree murder in the death of 67-year-old Nanette Hart.
First Chief Assistant District Attorney Rick Trunfio said the evidence showed Hart struck his grandmother during an argument in the home they shared after which he suffocated her by placing a plastic bag over her head and strangled her.
He then wrapped the body in black garbage bags and disposed of the remains behind the garage of a rental property the victim owned at 421 Westmoreland Ave.
Authorities said the murder occurred sometime between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2. The victim's body was found Dec. 3.
"This was a family tragedy of the nth degree," defense lawyer Francis Walter said. "I think he snapped,"
Trunfio agreed the fact that Hart had no reason to kill the victim raised the specter of a mental health defense. The victim cared for Hart, cooked his meals and drove him to work, the prosecutor said.
But the prosecutor said the evidence of Hart's intentional conduct in killing the victim and disposing of her body helped the prosecution overcome any potential mental health defenses.
Trunfio said Walter was considering both a "not responsible" defense under the state's insanity law and a defense that Hart acted with "extreme emotional disturbance."
But the prosecutor said the defense apparently had concluded it could not overcome the prosecution challenge to those defenses at trial.
Members of the victim's family - including the defendant's father - were present in court for the guilty plea. They declined comment pending sentencing set for July 13.
Trunfio said the case has been exceptionally difficult for the family given that a loved member of the family was killed by another member.
Trunfio said the victim's children, including the defendant's own father, wanted the prosecution to pursue the case vigorously. The father especially believed his son's case should be prosecuted as a murder and not as a lesser manslaughter, the prosecutor said.
Trunfio said Walter has recently been trying to set up a meeting between the defendant and his father, but no such meeting has been arranged. The prosecutor said the father is dealing with a lot of anger about what happened to his mother.
Trunfio also said he believes the defendant is having a hard time accepting what he did to his grandmother and is embarrassed to face his other relatives.
According to Trunfio, Hart originally was not a suspect. The case originated as a missing persons case, he said.
Because Hart lived with the victim, police went to him to get as much information as they could about the victim, the prosecutor said.
But detectives became suspicious when Hart started giving different versions of a story that were inconsistent, Trunfio said.
Given that much of what police were told about the case came from the defendant, Trunfio admitted authorities do not know exactly where and when the murder took place or why.
Trunfio said he suspected Hart and the victim were arguing over money or his use of her car when the victim was assaulted. He said the evidence did not appear to support Hart's contention that he hit the victim and she struck her head as she fell.
According to the prosecutor, a lot of blood was found in the plastic bag placed over the victim's head, indicating that occurred very quickly or the blow to the head occurred after the bag was put in place.
Authorities believe the crime occurred at the Mountainview home, but were unable to pinpoint where in the dwelling because Hart may have had several days to clean up evidence before the body was found, Trunfio said.
"She died a horrific death at the hands of her own blood, her own grandson," Trunfio said.
One of the first questions her relatives asked after Hart's guilty plea was entered today was the likelihood of him being released from prison on parole after serving the minimum 15 years, the prosecutor said.
Trunfio said that may well be up to the family as they will be contacted by parole officials when the time comes.
The family wanted the victim's killer held accountable regardless of his place in that family, Trunfio said. How accountable is something they will have to consider over the next 15 years, he noted.