Merrick man sentenced to 21 years for wife’s strangulation

Posted

A Merrick man was sentenced today to 21 years for the strangling death of his wife in February 2020 after an argument inside of their home, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

John Gerges, 61, pled guilty before Judge Tammy Robbins in a Nassau County courtroom to first-degree manslaughter on July 20. Gerges was sentenced to 21 years and five years post-release supervision.

“A trivial argument sparked a violent attack that cost Marvat Gerges her life,” said acting District Attorney Joyce A. Smith. “Gerges committed the ultimate act of domestic violence and will now spend the next 21 years behind bars paying for his horrific crime.”

Smith said that in the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 2020, Gerges strangled his wife, Marvat Gerges, 58, inside their Merrick home following a 3 a.m. verbal altercation over the cleanliness of their home.

Marvat was homebound with severe arthritis and was found in the guest bedroom with marks around her neck by the couple’s adult son at roughly 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. The son called 911 immediately and Marvat was later pronounced dead.

Gerges was not home at the time his son found the body and did not return home until the following morning when he was questioned and later arrested by Nassau County Police Department detectives.

Compiled by Jordan Vallone