By Cindy J. Roth and Linda Delmonico-Prussen
Nassau County Police arrested and charged Leonard Lanza, 20, of Seaford, in connection with the death of James Curry, 43, who was found bound at his hands and feet with shoelaces and dead in the basement of a Central Boulevard home.
Apparently, Curry had rented a basement apartment at the house, said Detective Sgt. Richard Lauren of the Nassau County Homicide Squad during a news conference at Police Headquarters in Mineola Tuesday.
A livery cab driver tipped Sixth Squad police off to the crime at 8 a.m. on May 20. The driver said a passenger in his cab, whom police identified as Lanza, had said he committed murder.
Seventh Precinct officers rushed to 80 Central Boulevard in Merrick. With the assistance of Curry's landlord, they entered the apartment, where Curry was found on the floor. He was pronounced dead at 9:35 a.m.
Lanza was charged with second-degree murder.
Police say that Curry and Lanza appear to have argued early Monday morning. According to officials, angry words allegedly turned to violence. Curry was apparently beaten to death between 3 and 4 a.m., but the Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office is continuing to investigate before ruling on a cause of death.
Money and credit cards were stolen from Curry's apartment. Part of the undisclosed amount of stolen money was recovered, and the credit cards were found in a trashcan in New York City.
Police say that Curry befriended Lanza a few years ago and allowed him to stay at his apartment when he had no other place to go. According to officials, Curry lived an "alternative lifestyle," though police did not offer many details about it. There are indications of a consensual sexual relationship between the two, police said.
Curry worked as a deli clerk in the Waldbaum's just south of Old Lindenmere.
Officials are looking at robbery as a possible motive for the crime, but they are investigating other motives as well.
The two first met at a train depot. At the time, when Lanza was around 16 to 17 years old, Curry worked for a company posting signs at railroad stations.
Lanza was released from jail two months ago after serving 15 months for burglary and credit-card fraud. Since then, he stayed at Curry's house several times. He was on parole until 2004. No drugs were involved in the murder, police said.
Officials did not identify the livery cab driver, who picked up Lanza at Great Neck Plaza. From there, Lanza took the train into the city before returning to Long Island. Police are checking whether Lanza used Curry's credit cards while in the city.
Lanza had contusions and abrasions on his fist and apparently knew the cab driver. He called the driver for help and told him he was in trouble, police said.
Old Lindenmere residents said they were shocked to learn of a murder in their community.
Karen Nunez, who owns 80 Central Boulevard, said she heard nothing unusual at the victim's rented apartment Sunday night or Monday morning. She first learned of the crime when police officers arrived at her home. "The police came knocking at my door and asked if I lived here," she said. Nunez said she had no idea why they discovered Curry's body.
Nunez said of the victim: "He was a nice guy. He kept to himself, was quiet."
Neighbor Kathy Harrington said she saw no signs of the murder until police arrived at the Nunez home Monday morning. Harrington said police canvassed the neighborhood and questioned neighbors in the area at about 2 p.m. Monday. Harrington said she wished more people would became involved in the neighborhood and join the civic association, saying, as other neighbors did, that she was unaware a tenant lived next door to her in a rented apartment.
Stacy Grossman, vice president of the Old Lindenmere Civic Association who lives nearby, said, "I'm very shocked. I thought maybe someone had a heart attack early in the morning," adding, "I'm shocked that this happened in Merrick."
Lanza was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday morning. He did not enter a plea. He was remanded to the Nassau County Jail in East Meadow without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, May 23.
Lanza's parents declined comment for this article.
Scott Brinton contributed to this story.
