Bayside Man Accused of Murdering His Parents: Queens DA

A Bayside man has been accused of murdering his parents during two separate incidents as well as attacking police officers while being questioned about the murders, the Queens district attorney said.

Gregory Cucchiara, 36, of 215-46 28th Ave. in Bayside, has been named in an indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree murder for the death of his mother in 2011 and his father this year, Queens DA Richard Brown said.

The defendant, who was awaiting arraignment before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder on Wednesday, is also alleged to have attacked two police officers on Nov. 13 as they questioned him about the murders as Astoria’s 114th Precinct station house.

“This is a horrifying case of a young man throwing his life away and betraying the trust of his family – first by allegedly drowning his mother and then, a year later, suffocating his father,” the DA said. “The defendant’s actions, if true, are incomprehensible in a civilized society and must be severely punished.”

In the indictments brought against him, Cucchiara is charged with second-degree murder, assault and obstructing governmental administration.

On May 24, 2011, the defendant is alleged to have killed his mother, Giusepina Cucchiara, with a blunt impact to her head and submersion of her head in water, Brown said.

Between Aug. 20 and 21, he allegedly killed his father, Carmelo Cucchiara, by asphyxiation, the DA said.