(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jason Kurumoglu, 30, of Brentwood, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, for allegedly fatally stabbing his mother, 59-year-old Melida Velasquez.
“After allegedly stabbing his mother to death, this defendant callously left her lying where she died,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will work tirelessly to secure justice for Ms. Velasquez.”
According to the investigation, on September 9, 2025, at 5:14 p.m., Suffolk County Police received a 911 call reporting that Velasquez had been discovered by her daughter inside the home that they shared on West White Street in Brentwood.
Responding officers arrived to find Velasquez deceased, with a knife lodged in her back and a pool of blood surrounding her. As they began to clear the house for safety risks, Kurumoglu, Velasquez’s son who also resided with his mother, allegedly emerged from inside the home and surrendered to police. The officers observed what appeared to be dried blood on his hands and as well on a shirt that was later allegedly recovered from his room.
Through their investigation, police determined that on the day of the murder, Velasquez had been home alone from 6:32 a.m. until 1:23 p.m., when Kurumoglu allegedly returned home from work.
At 1:33 p.m., a downstairs tenant reported hearing a loud thump, followed by the victim allegedly screaming, “Help me, Lord.” The tenant also allegedly heard a male voice with the victim. Kurumoglu allegedly did not leave the house until after police arrived. By that point, investigators believe Velasquez had been dead approximately three hours.
In the weeks leading to the murder, police learned that Kurumoglu allegedly had repeated arguments with his mother and stepfather, to the extent that the stepfather temporarily left the home. On the day of the murder, Kurumoglu had been allegedly fired from his job.
On September 25, 2025, Kurumoglu was arraigned on the indictment before Acting County Court Judge James A. McDonaugh for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony.
Judge McDonaugh ordered Kurumoglu remanded without bail during the pendency of the case. Kurumoglu is due back in court on October 18, 2025, and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Peter Mayer, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Guido Cirenza of the Homicide Squad.