Woman Charged In LI Man's Murder Tried To Steal His Home: DA

AQUEBOGUE, NY — A woman charged in the 2020 murder of an Aquebogue man had a forged will and tried to steal his home, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said Monday.

Lee Pedersen, 69, was found dead of a gunshot wound in his Pine Avenue home in 2020, Suffolk County Police said.

Donatila O’Mahony, 41, was charged with second-degree murder, a felony; second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a felony; and second-degree attempted grand larceny, a felony, police said. She was arraigned on the indictment Monday, Sini said.

On March 8, 2020, at 10:24 p.m., Riverhead Town Police responded to a residence in Aquebogue to check on the welfare of the owner of the house, Pedersen, who was found dead, Sini said.

An autopsy by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner determined that Pedersen, 69, died of a gunshot wound, Sini said.

Immediately following Pedersen’s death, law enforcement obtained a copy of his last will and testament, in which he named a friend as executor and beneficiary of his house in Aquebogue, Sini said.

In June, 2020, O’Mahony, who was an acquaintance of Pedersen’s and was unaware that his will had already been obtained, reportedly provided a copy of a forged will to law enforcement in which she was named as executor and inheritor of the Aquebogue house, Sini said.

Further investigation revealed that O’Mahony was involved in shooting and killing Pedersen, "while acting in concert with another or others," on or about and between March 5 and March 8, 2020, Sini said.

“Her alleged actions were diabolical,” Sini said. “Not only was this defendant allegedly involved in the victim’s death, but she then attempted to steal the very house he was murdered in.”

O’Mahony was arraigned in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft and was remanded without bail, Sini said.

She is being represented by Jason Bassett and is due back in court on April 1, Sini said. Bassett did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If convicted of the top count, O’Mahony faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, Sini said.

According to Gas Engine Magazine, Pedersen was a "lifetime engine enthusiast," associated with the Long Island Antique Power Association in Riverhead.