New School Prof Found Dead, Suspect Discovered In Closet: NYPD

FLATBUSH, NY – A respected New School professor was found bludgeoned to death in his Flatbush home as police discovered his suspected attacker hiding in a closet, the NYPD said.

The victim, identified by the NYPD and the New School as psychology professor Jeremy Safran, 66, was discovered with trauma to his head and body in the house at 155 Stratford Road at 5:54 p.m. Tuesday, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police searched the home and found 28-year-old Mirzo Atadzhanov in a closet, the NYPD said. The Daily News reported he was covered in blood. He was arrested and charged with murder and burglary.

Officers had gone to the house after getting reports of a burglary in progress.

The New School issued a statement in which it said the community was shocked.

"An internationally renowned psychotherapist, Jeremy was deeply respected and admired by The New School community and his colleagues throughout the psychology profession for his work on psychoanalytic theory and practice, as well as research on psychotherapy processes and outcomes," the statement said.

"Jeremy earned countless distinctions for his work, including most recently the Society for Psychotherapy Research Distinguished Research Career Award and The American Psychological Association Division 39 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychoanalytic Research.

"We offer our deepest condolences to his family and will be offering support to his many friends and colleagues throughout the university community in the days ahead.”

Photo courtesy of the New School