Pit Bull Rescued, 5 Kids Found Living In Squalor At Central Islip Home, Police Say
A Long Island man is facing criminal charges after authorities discovered a pit bull living in filth—and five young children in similarly disturbing conditions, police said.
Steven Bartolomey, 37, of Central Islip, was arrested Thursday, May 8, on suspicion of animal cruelty, neglect, and child endangerment, officials said.
Bartolomey was charged with multiple misdemeanors after officers found a one-year-old male pit bull named Snoopy trapped in a urine-soaked cage amid garbage, feces, and debris, with no access to food or water, police said. The dog has since been surrendered to Almost Hom…
Freezer Full Of Kittens Uncovered In 'Alarming' Home Of Bohemia Cat Hoarder, Police Say
A Long Island man is facing animal cruelty charges after investigators uncovered dozens of neglected cats living in squalid conditions—along with over 20 dead kittens in his freezer, police said.
Stephen Glantz, 75, faces 18 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and neglect following a Suffolk County SPCA investigation at his Bohemia residence, the agency said.
Detectives responded to the property on Saturday, May 3, following a report of animal hoarding. Inside, they found “dozens of cats, and their owner, living in alarming conditions with wet urine, smeared feces, grime, and filth coverin…
Son Killed In Mastic House Fire, Parents Hospitalized With Smoke Inhalation
A man died in a house fire that broke out on Overlook Drive in Mastic, Suffolk County Police said on Monday, May 5.
Firefighters were called to 67 Overlook Drive at 6:40 p.m. after 911 callers reported a blaze consuming the home, according to a police release.
Two residents, John Gaeta, 80, and Maryann Gaeta, 81, were able to escape the flames. Their son, Frank Gaeta, 56, was found dead on the back deck, police said.
John and Maryann Gaeta were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Posted by Mastic Beach Fire Department on Monday, Ma…
Neighbor Guilty Of Brutal Execution-Style Shooting Of Long Island Dad
A Long Island man has been convicted of gunning down his former neighbor in a ruthless, broad daylight attack that left a father dead outside a North Bellport home, authorities announced on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Shati Smith, 31, of Bellport, was found guilty of Felony Murder in the Second Degree for killing 28-year-old Lee Houpe, a father who is survived by his children, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Houpe was standing in a friend’s driveway at 615 Post Avenue around 1:45 p.m. when Smith pulled up in a car, got out, and opened …
Ex-Church Bookkeeper Embezzled $80K From Selden Parish, DA Says
A woman who once handled the books at a Long Island church embezzled nearly $80,000 from the parish, prosecutors alleged.
Stacey Hirsch, 48, formerly of Centereach and now living in Saint Lucie, Florida, was arraigned on grand larceny charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 2, after being extradited from Florida.
Hirsch served as the bookkeeper for Hope Lutheran Church on Dare Road in Selden, according to her Facebook profile. Between June 2022 and May 2023, she wrote unauthorized checks to herself and her husband from the church’s account — then used the money to pay off credi…
