John Ferro

Poughkeepsie Journal

MARLBORO – The 39-year-old Clintondale man accused of murdering his father stated he did so because his father sexually abused other family members including himself, a state police investigator testified in Marlborough town court Monday.

During a preliminary hearing before Judge Michael Kraiza, state police Inv. Timothy Jordan testified he took those statements from Nicholas Pascarella Jr. shortly after Pascarella turned himself in to Marlborough town police on Saturday.

Pascarella is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his father, Nicholas Pascarella Sr., 67, at his parents' home on Felicello Drive Saturday. He is also charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Under questioning from Michael Kavanagh of the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, Jordan, the state police investigator, gave the following testimony:

Jordan said he encountered Pascarella Jr. at the police station, where he allegedly had turned himself in.

Jordan said Pascarella Jr. gave statements indicating he went to his parents' home with the intent to kill his father, that he waited outside the home for his father to emerge and then, using a baseball bat he had picked up outside the home, hit his father in the head several times.

Pascarella Jr. said he waited to make sure his father knew he was approaching, Jordan testified, and that his father asked him what he was doing at the house.

According to Jordan's account of Pascarella Jr.'s statements, the son said he told his father, "I am here to kill you. I am going to kill you with this bat."

Jordan said Pascarella Jr. said he estimated he hit his father five or six times, then took the bat with him and drove straight to the Marlborough police department.

Pascarella Jr. gave statements that his father had sexually abused his young grandson — Pascarella Jr.'s son — as well has Pascarella Jr.'s brother, who committed suicide approximately 11 years ago, Jordan said.

Pascarella Jr. said he had also been abused by his father, Jordan testified.

Under questioning from MariAnne Connolly of the Ulster County Public Defender's Office, Jordan testified that Pascarella Jr. stated he told his father, "I am here to kill you for what you did to me, my son and my brother."

Jordan testified that one of the first comments Pascarella Jr. made to Jordan was "Is he dead?"

Jordan said that upon learning that his father had died after being transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, Pascarella Jr. said, "Thank God."

Jordan also said that Pascarella Jr. said his mother witnessed the attack from the window of her home, and that she screamed.

"(Pascarella Jr.) articulated that it was good for her to watch," Jordan testified.

Pascarella Jr. wiped tears from his eyes as the state police investigator gave his testimony.

His wife, Michelle Pascarella, sat behind him during the proceeding. She declined to comment.

In other testimony, Marlborough police Officer Eric Masten said he arrived at the home on Felicello Drive shortly after noon on Saturday.

He said he found Pascarella Sr. lying in the driveway with severe head trauma. Masten said he assisted paramedics and escorted the ambulance to MidHudson Regional Hospital.

Kraiza ruled there was sufficient evidence to warrant a grand jury investigation and remanded Pascarella Jr. to Ulster County Jail without bail.

John Ferro: 845-437-4816; jferro@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @PoJoEnviro