Watch CBS News

Police: Freeport Man Charged With Murder After Wife's Body Found In Fire

FREEPORT, N.Y (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man is charged with killing his young wife before setting their home on fire, police said Tuesday.

Loventino Cassadean, 49, was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge. He was ordered remanded without bail.

1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports

Podcast

The body of his wife, 22-year-old Felicia Cassadean, was found by firefighters who were called to the couple's Craig Avenue home in Freeport on a report of a fire around 6 a.m. Monday, police said.

"We're being told that she was stabbed," Nassau County police Lt. John Azzata said at a news conference Tuesday. "There was a fire set in the home. The fire was set in the bed where the victim was found. The bed was set on fire along with the floor surrounding the bed."

Police said Cassadean used gasoline to set the bed on fire.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports

Podcast

Azzata said the couple had a troubled relationship and that the two had an ongoing argument over Cassadean's arrest earlier this year for a sex assault crime. Details on that case are not known.

Cassadean was arrested Monday after he flagged down an officer who was responding to the fire.

"During that conversation, the police officer felt that he had reasonable suspicion and he detained that individual," Azzata said.

Azzata said Felicia Cassadean's two young children, a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, were not home at the time.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.