Nassau Man Gets 50 To Life For Murdering Mom, Sister And Friend

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Nassau County man was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison today for bludgeoning his mother, sister and a friend to death in 2017.

Bobby Vanderhall, 39, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty on Oct. 26, 2021 to first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

“An act of swift and extreme violence took the lives of three individuals and tore apart two families,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This sentence is the just punishment for these heinous crimes. NCDA continues to keep the Vanderhall and Simpson families in our thoughts as they try to heal from this tragedy.”

According to Donnelly, around 1 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2017, Vanderhall forced his way into his family's home in Hempstead with a hammer and a screwdriver. He used the hammer to murder his mother, Lynn, his sister, Melissa, and his sister's friend, Janel Simpson. He also used kitchen knives to stab his mother and sister multiple times.

A fourth woman was in the home and also attacked, but was able to escape and call police. She suffered wounds to her wrist, arm and head.

Vanderhall fled the scene and was arrested a few hours later by Nassau County detectives.