Bizarre Confession Follows Brutal Murder Of Epileptic Man In Glen Cove

GLEN COVE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A mysterious disappearance on Long Island led to a murder investigation and now an arrest. A Glen Cove man was charged with killing his long-time friend.

As CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff reported Friday, the accused killer said he's "sorry."

Police hadn't even identified the victim when Edward Brown was apologizing for killing his friend, Nunzio Izzo.

"I'm sorry for what I did. I'm extremely sorry," Brown told reporters, including Gusoff.

Nassau County police said he killed a man and then dumped the body in a canister, covered it with a tarp and left it steps from his Glen Cove home in a neighbor's yard.

"The defendant not only sold the jewelry that the victim possessed at a pawn shop, but he confessed and led them to the body of the victim," Assistant District Attorney Martin Meaney said.

The victim is believed to be 56-year-old Izzo, who went missing 18 days ago. Izzo, also from Glen Cove, had epilepsy and a pacemaker and was last seen on Brown's street. His family searched desperately.

"All we wanted was for him to return home safely and yesterday the authorities told us they found him deceased," one family member said.

"My brother was well known in the community -- always smiling always kind," Lorenzo Izzo added.

Police are now searching for a motive. They said the two men were well known in Glen Cove.

"Mr. Brown was friends with the decedent and that the decedent and him had an argument that evening causing the death of the decedent," Nassau Det. Lt. John Azzata said.

In court, relatives of the accused killer offered condolences.

"I can't see him doing something like this," Anthony Leake said.

None of it makes sense to the victim's family members either.

"The question is why? Why would someone do something like this?" a relative said.

Meanwhile, Brown was being held without bail, charged with murder, and Izzo's family has been left to wonder why anyone would kill such a gentle and disabled man.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim was beaten to death.

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