Man charged with fatally stabbing wife in Copiague, ordered jailed
Suffolk County police at the scene on Lake Drive in Copiague on Monday night. Credit: Stringer News Service
A West Islip man is accused of fatally stabbing his wife in Copiague — and their 18-year-old son injured his hand as he took the knife away from his father, police said.
Wayne Alcus, 49, is charged with second-degree murder. At an appearance before Acting County Court Judge Gaetan Lozito on Tuesday, a day after the slaying, he was ordered jailed at least until the case returns to court on Friday, online court records show.
The slain woman was Patricia Alcus, 55, according to a Suffolk County police news release.
Alcus' court-appointed attorney, Philip Michael Murphy of Bay Shore, did not answer a call for comment early Wednesday morning.
Wayne Alcus had recently moved out of the family house on Lake Drive near Park Place, according to a staffer at the police press office. But Alcus was at the Lake Drive house around 7 p.m. Monday, when he stabbed his wife, according to the release.
Patricia Alcus was pronounced dead at the scene. Ryan Alcus, their son, was home at the time and was brought to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.
Wayne Alcus was treated and discharged from Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip after being treated for minor injuries, the release said.
Wayne Alcus, of West Islip, is charged with second-degree murder, police said. Credit: SCPD
Other details were not made available.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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