Long Island Murder Suspect Arrested, Allegedly Stabbed Man Over 100 Times During Date
MERRICK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Police have made an arrest in the stabbing death of a man in Nassau County earlier this month.
Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Lindquist, of Massapequa, is accused of stabbing 32-year-old Evan Grabelsky to death inside his Merrick home on June 1.
Lindquist was arrested Friday.
Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the Nassau County Homicide Squad, says investigators have learned Grabelsky met Lindquist through social media about two years ago, and the two had been in a romantic relationship for about a year at the time of the incident.
According to Fitzpatrick, Lindquist and Grabelsky met at Grabelsky's home on June 1 while his parents were out.
"During that time together at the house, during the date, something happened where Ryan stabbed Mr. Grabelsky over 100 times, causing his death," Fitzpatrick said.
Web Extra: Fitzpatrick offers new details in fatal stabbing investigation --
They believe the attack started in Grabelsky's bedroom and "escalated" throughout the house as Grabelsky apparently tried to get away from Lindquist.
Investigators said family members returned to the home late that day and discovered Grabelsky's body.
Authorities identified Lindquist as a person of interest soon after the murder.
"Both his hands were cut up, which is indicative with somebody who stabbed somebody over 100 times … That, as well as video surveillance, telephone conversations, text messaging, all those and more pointed towards him," Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick says they do not believe Lindquist was under the influence of any controlled substance at the time of the stabbing. It is being considered a domestic incident.
Grabelsky was a director at a Long Island day camp for kids. According to his LinkedIn account, he also worked with special education students at Great Neck North High School.
Lindquist worked at a costume store in Westbury.