Man Who Killed BK Professor And Hid In His Closet Sentenced: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn man who stabbed a renowned professor to death in his Ditmas Park home then hid in a closet will spend decades of his life in jail, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Mirzo Atadzhanov — the 32-year-old convicted of killing New School professor Jeremy Safran in May 2018 — was sentenced to 22 years to life in Brooklyn Supreme Court, the District Attorney's office announced.

Atadzhanov pleaded guilty in November to the murder of the 66-year-old psychology professor in his Stratford Road home, prosecutors said.

Safran was working out in the basement when Atadzhanov broke into his house and stabbed him in the chest and stomach repeatedly, according to the DA.

The professor's wife called 911 and officers rushed to the house to find Safran dead in the basement, with a bloody Atadzhanov hiding in a nearby closet, prosecutors said.

Atadzhanov, who had previously been accused of attempted rape, was charged and held without bail, Patch reported at the time.

"This defendant broke into the victim’s home and when confronted, senselessly stabbed him to death," said District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Thursday.

"Hopefully, today’s sentence brings a measure of solace to his heartbroken family," he said.