In an incident that is surely a tragedy and unbelievable, a New York man killed his 11-year-old daughter and her grandmother and then killed himself. The details of what happened emerged to the community in mourning.
Crime Scene Discovery
Calls came in early Friday morning of January 3, wherein a disturbing call from 50 Hollyvale Drive reported the female unresponsive lying on the front porch. Police arrived, and this office has been made aware of identification of the deceased, which identified the victim: 11-year-old Anne Mancuso, affectionately known as Annie. She was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead with shots.
As police extended their search, they saw that the house at 60 Hollyvale Drive was open, the window also has a bullet hole. Two bodies were found: Lawrence Mancuso, 53-year-old father of Anne; and Mary Liccini, maternal grandmother of Anne, aged 74 years old.
Community Shocked Over the Loss
Anne had attended schools in the Brighton Central School District, whose superintendent Kevin McGowan remembered her as a sensitive and compassionate student who brightened each day for everyone who knew her. Anne was described to have been such a kind, special friend; a warm personality and compassionate.
The incident has sent the neighbors and friends into shock and grief. The community has organized candlelight vigils for 11 days as a form of remembrance of Anne.
Circumstances Surrounding the Incident
Police later identified the killer as Lawrence Mancuso, an Assistant Dean for Human Resources at Cornell University, currently on leave of absence. Detectives said Mancuso committed a cold-blooded execution of Anne and Mary Liccini before using the gun against himself.
The motive behind the tragedy remains a mystery, but the utterly shocking events sent the tight community reeling. Friends and neighbors described the start of the year as “soul-crushing,” with many struggling to comprehend how such a devastating event could occur in their peaceful neighborhood.
It is this tragedy that now unites the community in support of Anne’s grieving family and in honor of her memory, while serving as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of extending care to those around us.
