‘Why aren't you dying?’: Son chokes mother, hits her with blunt metal object in New York, arrested; what do we know so far

New York Crime News: A shocking case involving a mother and a son surfaced in New York, where a man is accused of beating and choking his 75-year-old mother during an argument, with prosecutors claiming that he yelled, "Why aren't you dying?" at her during the horrifying incident.

The accused has been identified as 37-year-old John Strano. He was arrested and charged on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, based on a report by a woman claiming that she was attacked inside a home in the Long Island neighborhood of Williston Park, PEOPLE reported, citing the Nassau County Police Department.

Responding officers arrived at the home, and the woman said that Strano allegedly became violent during the argument and pushed her to the ground and slammed her head into the floor, News12, citing police.


The accused then allegedly punched her and struck her more than three dozen times with a blunt metal object in the back of her head, which prosecutors later claimed in court was a metal clamp, the news outlet reported. "Strano then choked the victim before he fled the scene," police said.

Strano, who yelled at his mother, was later arrested

Strano also allegedly admitted to police that during the attack, he yelled at his mother, "Why aren't you dying?" and, "Why are you still breathing?"

He was later found by police more than a mile from the original scene, at a nearby elementary school, where he was taken into custody on a baseball field after classes had ended for the day. Police said he was placed under arrest without incident and taken to an area hospital for an evaluation.

Woman rushed to hospital

Strano's mother, whose identity was not revealed at the time of the filling of this report, was taken to an area hospital, where she is listed in stable condition, according to police.

Speaking about the injuries suffered by the victim, prosecutors claimed in court that she had swelling on her entire face and head and severe lacerations and that she lost consciousness at one point, as reported by News 12.

Charges against Strano

Strano was charged with second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He reportedly pleaded not guilty and was remanded.