'I Thought The Lord Was Talking': Chilling Details As Son Of Stabbed Deli Owners Pleads Not Guilty: Lawyer

BETHPAGE, NY — Vito Dambrosio pleaded not guilty on Tuesday morning at his arraignment after he was arrested and accused of killing his parents and Bethpage deli owners, his attorney said.

The 30-year-old son was indicted on charges including first-degree murder in connection with the deaths, police said. He pleaded not guilty before Judge Howard Sturim to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder at court in Mineola, and was remanded.

The Seaford man was arraigned on the grand jury indictment charges of murder; both charges are an A-I felony. He is due back in court on Jan. 30. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without parole, officials said.

Nassau County police said they observed Dambrosio of Seaford standing in the parking lot in front of the store at approximately 9:11 a.m. on Dec. 4. He had blood on his hands and on his clothing, police said.

Angela Pulisciano, 62, was found with stab wounds in her throat, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. Antonio Dambrosio, 70, was found with stab wounds to the neck as well. He was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to authorities, Dambrosio arrived at the store and had an altercation with his parents in the back room, stabbed his mother, and then turned the knife on his father.

In the courtroom on Tuesday morning, Nassau County Deputy Bureau Chief of Homicide and Assistant District Attorney Veronica Guariglia shared chilling details of what transpired. She said that during a 911 call on Dec. 4 at approximately 9:11 a.m., Dambrosio said: "I killed my mother and father. I stabbed them both in the throat. They are in the deli."

Guariglia said that Angela died almost immediately at the scene because her trachea was sliced and her carotid artery was cut; she could not breathe. Antonio's carotid artery was also cut, she said.

Also in court, Guariglia shared that on the same day, at approximately 9:20 a.m., recordings on body camera footage from NCPD Officers Daniel Kalin and Renee Coff indicated that Dambrosio said he stabbed his parents in the throat: "They're not breathing. I left the knife in the deli. My hands got a little cut. All that they did to me is on TikTok. I confessed everything on TikTok."

The TikTok videos have since been deleted; his account was iamjesus333.

Officials in court continued and said that Dambrosio said, on the fateful day: "I thought the Lord was talking and I snapped. After everything I gave to them, after everything I did for them, they kicked me out. I was listening to the Lord. I don't know why I did that. I feel dead now. I don't want to see them ever again. I was living in my car."

When Dambrosio spoke to Detective John Mitchell of NCPD Homicide Squad on Dec. 4 at approximately 3:48 p.m., Guariglia recounted that Dambrosio said: "I deserve to go to jail. I deserve life sentences. They didn't deserve this. I had life handed to me."

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly spoke with the press: "I think the most compelling thing that he said at the scene was, 'I did it.'"

Dambrosio's parents were killed just nine days after he was released from jail followong a domestic incident involving his sister, in which he was issued a stay-away protection order placed against him, authorities said. He was not able to go back to his home or the family business, which was the location of the murders, officials added.

Donnelly confirmed the charge against him involving the incident with his sister was forcible touching, noting that an order of protection had been issued. She said that it may have been "the antithesis" of his sudden hatred for his parents because "he no longer had his job and no longer had a place to live."

She continued, adding that she disagreed with the judge's decision to allow Dambrosio out of jail after the incident with his sister.

"Obviously, if he had been in prison, this act wouldn't have happened. He was released over our objection. This was the judge's decision to change his bail status. I would never say any judge is at fault. The judge makes a decision based on his opinion and his review of the case, although I disagree with it. Certainly, it would have been better if he wasn't on the street at the time this happened."

Donnelly also touched upon the Reiner case in LA, in which 32-year-old Nick Reiner is being linked to the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

"There is nothing more heartbreaking than when you see a child turn on their parents," she said.

Continuing, she shared how beloved the couple was to their Bethpage deli community and Seaford residential community.

"I mean, these people, by all accounts, were just a loving, incredible couple that took care of the neighborhood where they had their local deli, took care of everybody who came in," she said. "If you came in and maybe forgot your wallet one day, Angela would say, 'Just pay me next time.' They raised five children, they did nothing but give back and work hard, and to see a child turn on them for whatever reasons he thought he had in his head, it's just heartbreaking. Much like the Reiners, they raised a child and for him to turn on them because of what he perceived as them not helping him with his issues."

She could not comment on Dambrosio's mental state because they hadn't received any reports on that issue, and there was no drug problem that the DA's Office was aware of. She confirmed doctors would have to do an analysis on Dambrosio.

Two of Dambrosio's attorneys spoke with the press after the court appearance, stating that they haven't seen any of the evidence yet. Raymond Queliz and Siara Ossa were the attorneys representing Dambrosko in the courtroom on Tuesday. Queliz said he was also representing Dambrosio in the case involving his sister.

In the weeks following the death of Angela and Antonio, friends, family, and community members mourned the loss of the beloved A & A Deli owners.

Community members shared stories, including one who has been going to the deli since he was a teenager.

A former colleague and friend of Antonio shared memories of their time together in Jackson Heights, more than 30 years ago.

Loved ones attended the visitation and funeral Mass from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, and a GoFundMe was launched and has raised more $80,000 from 1,300 donors.