Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini has announced the indictment of a Central Islip woman for the alleged murder of an Aquebogue man in March 2020 and for presenting a forged last will and testament for the victim in an attempt to steal his home.
Donatila O’Mahony, 41, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony; Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony; and Attempted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class D felony.
“Her alleged actions were diabolical,” District Attorney Sini said. “Not only was this defendant allegedly involved in the victim’s death, but she then attempted to steal the very house he was murdered in.”
On March 8, 2020, at approximately 10:24 p.m., Riverhead Town Police responded to a residence in Aquebogue to check on the welfare of the owner of the house, Lee Pedersen, who was found dead. An autopsy by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner determined Pedersen, 69, died of a gunshot wound.
Immediately following Pedersen’s death, law enforcement obtained a copy of his last will and testament, in which he named a friend as executor and beneficiary of his house in Aquebogue.
In June 2020, O’Mahony, who was an acquaintance of Pedersen’s and was unaware that his will had already been obtained, allegedly provided a copy of a forged will to law enforcement in which she was named as executor and inheritor of the Aquebogue house.
Further investigation revealed that O’Mahony was allegedly involved in shooting and killing Pedersen, while acting in concert with another or others, on or about and between March 5 and March 8, 2020.
O’Mahony was arraigned on the indictment virtually today in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft and was remanded without bail. She is being represented by Jason Bassett and is due back in court on April 1.
If convicted of the top count, O’Mahony faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Francis X. Schroeder, of the Felony Offense Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Ferron Lien, of the Felony Offense Bureau’s Major Crime Unit.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
