A suspect is denying allegations that he killed his ex-girlfriend and her 2-year-old son in their North Bay Shore apartment the week before Christmas.
Jerry A. Lewis pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday at Suffolk County court.
Police have said the 24-year-old man fatally stabbed Shakeela Planter, 21, a dietician at Huntington Hospital, at her South Cardinal Court home on Dec. 18. He also allegedly beat her son Jaiden to death and stuffed him in the freezer.
The victim’s landlord called police after he discovered the mother’s bound body while checking on her six days later. Detectives later found the boy.
Prosecutors said several “severe bite marks” were found on the boy’s body. Lewis, who briefly lived with the victims, was not the boy’s father, authorities have said.
After the killings, Lewis fled to Maryland, where his mother lives. He later surrendered to police but initially fought extradition back to New York.
Lewis, who came to the U.S. from Jamaica two years ago, waived extradition last Thursday, according to a spokesman for the district attorney’s office.
Defense attorney Craig McElwee said he would investigate whether any psychological issues were involved.
-With Associated Press.