By:Chris Munzing
It also left the Long Beach Catholic Regional School with the difficult task of dealing with the murder of one young student's parents. The Malones' eldest child, 6-year-old Audrey, is a first-grader at the school.
Sean Dolan, director of communications of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, said that when news of the incident surfaced, the school held an assembly for the students to explain what happened. "The school let them know that the staff is there to provide them with anything they need," Dolan said.
The Rev. Tom Donohoe also led the first Mass of the school year, and focused on healing and comfort, Dolan said. In addition, every student in the school made a card for Audrey, expressing their sympathy and support.
The Long Beach School District also lent its assistance, providing the LBCRS with support staff, such as guidance counselors and psychologists, according to Superintendent Dr. Robert Greenberg. "The first issue in situations like this is the trauma and bereavement support for the kids who need it," Greenberg said.
The district put all of its schools in "lock-out mode" the day after the killing. "All of the doors were locked, and the students weren't allowed to go outside for recess," said West School Principal Sandra Schneider.
Schneider said that none of West School's students had come to her with any concerns, but, she added, "We're available to them if they have any questions, and they know there are people here they can talk to."
David Malone arrested
A three-day manhunt by local and county authorities ended last Thursday evening when David Malone, 35, the prime suspect in the murder of his estranged wife, Diane, 32, was arrested and charged with her killing.
Malone was apprehended as he walked through the streets of the West End, just blocks from where his wife's body was discovered stabbed and bludgeoned to death Tuesday night, Sept. 14.
The arrest was made after Long Beach police received a tip that Malone was hiding out in a vacant home on Wisconsin Street, just two blocks from his wife's Alabama Street home.
Acting on the tip, the Long Beach Police Department, the Nassau County Homicide Squad and the county's Bureau of Special Operations began surveillance of the neighborhood. At approximately 11 p.m. on Thursday night, LBPD Sgt. James Canner and officer Walter Munsterman saw Malone walking toward them on Virginia Avenue.
The two officers alerted other units, and Malone was quickly taken into custody without incident. Police said Malone had broken into a Wisconsin Street home shortly after the murder, and had been hiding out there while police searched for him.
Lt. Dennis Farrell of the Homicide Squad said that he believed Malone was preparing to leave town, but didn't know where he might have headed. "Target one was to get out of Long Beach," Farrell said of Malone.
Farrell added that Malone's past was dotted with arrests for violent behavior. "From 1985 to 1990, there were a number of arrests, ranging from criminal contempt to assault," Farrell said. "In 1990 he was arrested for assaulting a Long Beach police officer, and in 2001 he was arrested for assaulting a co-worker."
Malone was arraigned in Long Beach Court last Friday, and charged with second-degree murder.
The couple had three children, ages 6, 3 and 1. David and Diane Malone were known throughout their neighborhood to have frequent, often loud, arguments, according to one neighbor who declined to be identified. "[David] was a regular guy, and a nice guy," the neighbor said. "But when it came to her, he was totally different. He would get very jealous.
"To see them walking around the neighborhood with the kids, you'd never think anything, but they used to fight all the time," he continued. "But I never thought he'd have this in him."
Diane Malone had obtained a restraining order against her estranged husband in July, and it was set to expire in January. Despite the restraining order, the couple had worked out a visitation schedule.
