Congers man charged with beating father to death

CONGERS – A local man has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after police say he beat his father to death at their home at 79 Ohio Avenue early Monday.

Steven Alicea, 33, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 61-year-old Ismael Alicea.

Police Officer Peter Walker said Ismael Alicea was struck in the head area with a weight-like blunt object, but he would not be more specific, citing the ongoing investigation.

"We're trying to find out exactly what led up to this," said Walker said.

Ismael Alicea was found unresponsive in a bedroom and pronounced dead at 5:58 a.m., police said. Officers responded after his wife, Susan Alicea, ran to a neighbor's home and asked him to call police. She was home at the time of the attack but not injured, police said.

Police said Steven Alicea had blood on his clothing when he was taken into custody. He was arraigned Monday afternoon in front of Clarkstown Justice Scott Ugell. He entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge, and did not speak other than to give his age in response to a question from the judge.

He wore light blue scrubs, was barefoot and had his hands cuffed behind his back.

His public defender, Clare Cincotta, requested he undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Rockland County Jail, where he is being held. Ugell ordered that the examination be performed prior to Alicea's next court appearance at 9:30 a.m. Friday. No bail was set.

Walker said police have been to the home several times in the past, including for domestic disputes, but he declined to provide specifics.

He called the incident "horrific" and "extremely shocking" in Clarkstown, where homicides are relatively rare.

Gilbert Caicedo, 48, a neighbor who lives across the street in the quiet, residential neighborhood said the family was "very sociable." When his family moved to the area in December 2006, the Alicea family welcomed him to the neighborhood, he said. Caicedo said Steven is one of the couple's two sons; they also have a grown daughter.

From what he knew, there was no domestic violence history in the family, so what happened came as a shock, Caicedo said.

"They've been very nice to us. They've been very nice to my kids," he said.

He said he did not recall any unusual behavior involving Steven Alicea or witness any police calls to the house. Caicedo said he often talked with Steven and his brother Daniel about baseball or football.

The Aliceas' next-door neighbor, Del Cernuda, 70, said he has known the family for decades. He said Ismael Alicea had recently recovered from his heart attack.

"He was a wonderful guy," Cernuda said.

Until his retirement in 2009, Ismael Alicea worked at The New York Public Library in New York City for 36 years. He started as a clerk and worked his way up to associate director of adult education and outreach, said Angela Montefinise, a spokeswoman for the library.

Cernuda said Susan Alicea was also a librarian who was still working in the field; the couple was known for offering books to children in the community.

Like any other family, he said, the Aliceas had issues, but "no one saw this coming."

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