Stamford man charged with killing elderly mother Stamford: 60-year-old Sylvan Knoll Road man charged with murdering his 86-year-old mother

Anthony Fiordelisi, 60, is arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Fiordelisi is accused of murdering his 86-year-old mother before attempting suicide Tuesday night. Anthony Fiordelisi, 60, is arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Fiordelisi is accused of murdering his 86-year-old mother before attempting suicide Tuesday night. Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Stamford man charged with killing elderly mother 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD -- A 60-year-old city man killed his 86-year-old mother before trying to kill himself Tuesday night in their Cove home, police said.

Anthony Fiordelisi, of 155 Sylvan Knoll Road, was charged with murder and is being held on $500,000 bond.

Fiordelisi told police he killed his mother, Marion, because he didn't want her to see him kill himself, police said.

At his arraignment early Wednesday afternoon at state Superior Court in Stamford, Judge Robert Genuario ordered Fiordelisi be put on suicide watch and recommended he be transferred to Newtown's Garner Correctional Institution that holds male prisoners with significant mental health issues.

Marion Fiordelisi's sister, Pat Calderone, said early Wednesday afternoon that she had just been told of the death.

"This is so, so terrible," she said.

Judicial marshals brought the bearded Anthony Fiordelisi into the courtroom wearing a hooded paper jumpsuit. When greeted by the judge, he responded with a robust hello that shook his long gray hair as he spoke.

At public defender Howard Ehring's request, Genuario requested that Fiordelisi be given a mental competency exam to determine if he understands the charges against him and can assist in his own defense.

The case was transferred to the Part A docket, where the most serious cases are decided, and Fiordelisi was scheduled to return to court Jan. 24.

Fiordelisi's youngest sister, Marion, and other family members attended the arraignment but declined comment on the arrest.

On Tuesday afternoon, medics were called to Fiordelisi's home at 4:26 p.m. for an injured person, Lt. Dedrich Hohn said.

Police were immediately called by a fire department official, who let them know there was evidence of a crime scene in the house.

When medics arrived, they found Fiordelisi in bed with his wrists slit and bleeding, Hohn said.

In another bedroom was his mother, Marion Fiordelisi, whose right wrist had also been slit. She was dead when medics arrived, Hohn said.

Fiordelisi told police he tried to kill himself, but because he did not want her to see him dead, he told police he wanted to make her "go to sleep," Hohn said.

Sometime Monday, Fiordelisi gave his mother a large number of Ativan pills -- a potent sedative used to treat anxiety and insomnia -- and took a number of the pills himself, Hohn said.

He woke up sometime Tuesday and went to his mother. Not knowing if she was dead, he slashed her right wrist, Hohn said.

Fiordelisi went back to his own bed and slashed both of his wrists, Hohn said. He apparently called 911 at 4:26 p.m. to report he was injured, Hohn said.

Hohn said Marion Fiordelisi had been dead for about a day before the medics arrived Tuesday afternoon. After he was taken to Stamford Hospital for treatment of his wounds, Fiordelisi talked to police before asking for an attorney, Hohn said.

Ehring said he had not talked to Fiordelisi about the allegations, and therefore could not comment on them.

He said Fiordelisi was the primary caregiver to his mother for years. Ehring said he requested Fiordelisi be sent to Garner because the facility addresses the type of psychological difficulties his client is facing.

Nearby neighbors at Sylvan Knoll said Anthony Fiordelisi was a very attentive son.

"He was such a nice guy," said Carol DeLuca, whose back door is just a few doors away from the Fiordelisis'. "It is a shock to everybody around here. He has been taking care of his mother for many years. He did everything for her."

DeLuca's daughter, Frankie Ann Socci, who lives with her mother, agreed.

"He took care of his mother all by himself," Socci said. "It is really sad. I feel so bad for him."

Terry Fedeli, 80, whose husband, Dante Fedeli, was a friend of Marion Fiordelisi's late brother, former city Rep. John Boccuzzi, said she was shocked to hear what happened to her friend.

"She was the sweetest woman you ever wanted to meet," Terry Fedeli said. "She was such a wonderful person. I am shocked. I have known her for years. I'm so sorry. My God, what a tragedy."

Sylvan Knoll townhouses is a 145-unit co-op wedged between Seaside Avenue and the former Clairol property. According to a neighbor, Fiordelisi lived there for more than 25 years.

Staff Writer John Nickerson can be reached at 203-964-2320 or john.nickerson@scni.com.