Kristin Sculley, of Massapequa Park, pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing of Robert Carragher

A Massapequa Park woman has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of a 28-year-old Massapequa man who was stabbed as he slept in his home, police said.

Kristin Sculley, 22, pleaded not guilty to charges of killing Robert Carragher at her arraignment Tuesday morning in First District Court in Hempstead.

Carragher's friends and family packed the courtroom and sobbed as prosecutors read details about the killing.

Prosecutors said Carragher and Sculley had known each other and were in Carragher's bedroom for several hours before the attack.

"The defendant took out a knife that she brought with her and plunged it into the victim's neck, puncturing an artery in his neck," Deputy Homicide Bureau Chief Ania Pulaski said in court. "The victim ran upstairs where his parents were asleep, before he ultimately collapsed and died."

If convicted, Sculley could face 15 years to life in prison. Sculley was ordered remanded without bail.

Sculley's mother and sister were in court and left the courthouse without commenting.

Mindy Plotkin, Sculley's defense attorney, said she was investigating whether Sculley was trying to defend herself. "I think self-defense is something that definitely has to be looked into in this case," Plotkin said.

Carragher's family left sobbing, followed by a large group of his Massapequa friends.

"I loved him, there's not much you can say," said Carragher's friend Louis Ambrosio, 25, of Massapequa, said. "Bobby was a hardworking kid and got his life on the right track and was hanging out with this girl."

A woman who pulled up to the Sculley home in Massapequa Park Tuesday afternoon said she couldn't talk about the case. Neighbors interviewed said they didn't know the family. 

At an earlier news conference, Nassau homicide Det. Lt. George Darienzo said police were called to the home on Beaumont Avenue in Massapequa at 1:30 a.m. on Monday, where they found Carragher on the kitchen floor with a stab wound to his neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He was stabbed while lying in bed and [then] climbed the stairs screaming for his mother," Darienzo said. "His parents tried to stop the bleeding."

"He died in his father's arms," Darienzo said. "No family should ever have to bear witness to their son being killed in this manner."

Police arrested Sculley after she was found hiding in the basement. Police said she arranged to meet Carragher, whom she had known for several years, at his house, and the stabbing occurred in the basement apartment as he slept. Police found a pocketknife that is believed to be the murder weapon.

"They knew each other for several years and were friends," Darienzo said. "We believe the suspect Sculley became angry and stabbed him in the neck while he was sleeping." He did not elaborate about a possible motive.

Sculley has no prior criminal record.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.