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Long Island Man Held Without Bail On Murder Charge In Mother's Death

MEDFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing his mother in their home last month.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, Sean Farrell, 24, was wearing a white jumpsuit and shook back and forth as he faced the judge Friday.

Long Island Man Held Without Bail On Murder Charge In Mother's Death

He was ordered held without bail for the Dec. 9 killing. Authorities say he bludgeoned his mother, 45-year-old Bonnie Farrell Connelly, with an ax.

Long Island Man Held Without Bail On Murder Charge In Mother's Death

Prosecutors said after he killed his mother in the bedroom of their Medford home, he checked himself into a psychiatric hospital where he later called his grandmother and confessed.

In a statement, the grandmother said: "He told me he was selfish and should have killed himself."

"It appears he suffers from some form of schizophrenia, certainly issues that we're going to spend a lot of time on," defense attorney Daniel Russo told Hall and 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

Russo requested that Farrell be placed on suicide watch.

Prosecutors did not give a motive for the crime, Hall reported.

Farrell's stepfather and a number of friends were in the courtroom for the arraignment.

Farrell was arrested Thursday by Suffolk County Police.

Bonnie Farrell Connelly was found dead in the bedroom of her home on Norway Pine Drive by her husband.

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