Staten Island man accused of fatally strangling his mom indicted after court appearance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A man accused of fatally strangling his 82-year-old mother inside her Annadale home was indicted on murder charges after appearing in Criminal Court in St. George on Monday.

Carl Sutera, 59, of Sheldon Avenue in Huguenot, appeared briefly in the morning, before his case was presented to the grand jury.

By the evening, a certificate of indictment was presented to the judge and the matter was transferred to state Supreme Court.

Sutera is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Rosalie Sutera, 82.

Defense lawyer Joseph Sorrentino appeared in court alongside the defendant during the morning session.

Sutera, who was previously remanded to Rikers Island, entered the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back while escorted by approximately four officers.

He did not address the court.

Prosecutors allege the defendant strangled his mother to death at some point between 9:58 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. inside of her residence on Wolcott Avenue.

Born in Brooklyn, Rosalie Sutera was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, according to her obituary. Her husband, also named Carl, died in 2022.

Sorrentino, the defense attorney, told the Advance/SILive.com last week that the matter is under investigation and at this time he is not making any statements.