Mastic father fatally stabbed dozens of times by son, who threw weapon in trash, prosecutors say

A Lake Ronkonkoma man allegedly stabbed his father dozens of times before tossing the murder weapon in a garbage can at the crime scene, a Suffolk prosecutor said at Sage Arias-Brown's arraignment in Riverhead on Thursday.

Arias-Brown, 33, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the Sept. 7 death of his father, Edward Brown, 69, of Mastic, during the brief appearance before acting State Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz. Arias-Brown was remanded to the county jail without bail.

Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier told the judge parts of the attack could be heard on a 911 call.

"I’m being murdered. What are you doing to me, Sage?" prosecutors allege Brown could be heard saying on the call he placed from his Mastic Boulevard apartment.

Grier said a neighbor also heard the attack and identified Arias-Brown, who police found down the street, as the perpetrator. Arias-Brown’s clothes, hands and a backpack were bloodied and he had a laceration on his hand, the prosecutor said.

Grier said Brown suffered about 40 stab wounds to his "torso, chest and neck." Emergency services workers attempted to revive Brown, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A bloodied knife found in a garbage can outside the apartment is being tested at the Suffolk County Crime Lab, Grier said.

Arias-Brown appeared calm in court as he stood wearing a green Suffolk County Correctional Facility jumpsuit. Horowitz allowed the defendant to turn and say hello to his mother at the start of the proceeding, as requested by defense attorney Katherine Fernandez.

"I love you, too," he could be heard saying after receiving an affectionate gesture from his mother.

Fernandez told Horowitz her client has a documented history of mental health concerns but is receiving his medication at the jail and understands the proceedings. She said she may be making a later request for bail. The attorney stressed that while her client was arrested earlier this year on charges of robbing the TD Bank branch in Lake Ronkonkoma, that case has not proceeded to trial.

"He does have no prior criminal convictions," said Fernandez, who declined additional comment outside the courtroom.

In a statement, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney called the case "heartbreaking."

"This defendant is accused of viciously taking the life of his 69-year-old father as the victim desperately called the police for help," Tierney said.

Grier said Arias-Brown also could be heard shouting an expletive at his father during the call, and the witness neighbor heard Brown shouting that he was being killed.

Arias-Brown is due back in court on Oct. 21.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.