LI Son Charged After Abuse Of Mother Leads To Her Death: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Roosevelt man has been indicted on manslaughter charges for allegedly putting his mother in a headlock and swinging her, causing injuries that led to her death, prosecutors said.

Michael Rainford McDougall, 65, was arraigned on Monday of charges of second-degree manslaughter, first-degree endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, or an incompetent or physically disabled person and criminally negligent homicide, prosecutors said.

"Frustrated with their 85-year-old mother’s declining health, Michael McDougall and his sister, Nichole McDougall Mullings, allegedly took their anger out on her with physical violence and threats," said DA Donnelly. "According to the charges, Michael McDougall, his mother’s primary caregiver, pulled her into a headlock and swung her around, causing her to strike her head on the floor. She died several days later from organ failure caused by the catastrophic brain injury she suffered in the fall. Just two weeks before her death, Nichole Mullings allegedly twice constricted her mother’s ability to move and breathe, all caught on internal video footage from the home."

Nichole McDougall Mullings, 55, was arraigned Monday on two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, Donnelly said.

Mullings pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services.

McDougall pleaded not guilty, and his bail was set at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, and $1 million partially secured bond.

They are due back in court on November 22.

If convicted, McDougall faces up to 19 years in prison and Mullings faces up to 1-1/3 to four years in prison.