It is our hope this second conviction will provide the Morning family with some measure of peace and closure, District Attorney Thomas Spota said. He declined to say whether the evidence included the knife used in the murder. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Family and friends of the victim and the suspect packed the courtroom here today for Miss Taylor's arraignment. Ms. Parsons said her daughter had been on the way to a school bathroom when a security guard sent her back to her classroom. State Supreme Court Justice William Condon will sentence the defendant. You cant be here, this is not a safe situation, Ms. Parsons quoted the guard as telling her ninth grade daughter. All calls will remain anonymous, police said. Officers could be seen escorting residents of Hill Rise who lived past a police blockade to their homes. Hopefully we get another appeal," sister Katisha Taylor said. UNTIL three weeks ago, Karen and Robert Pace had been eagerly looking forward to the graduation of their son, Robert D. Pace, from Riverhead High School. Morning was stabbed more than 90 times in a savage slaying, her body found in woods near the school, CBS 2's Weijia Jiang reported. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students family and friends at this time.. I called the emergency room, they came, and quickly started to provide first aid and resuscitation, but everything went so fast, I think he almost died here at home, the distraught father said. A mobile crime scene unit was also called to the scene and officers began flying a drone as the search for a suspect continued. / CBS New York. 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An assistant Suffolk County district attorney, Christopher Powers, who has been handling the case from its beginning, said that Miss Taylor had a history of violent behavior. She said that as several parents stood outside the schools front door, one parent slipped by a security guard, got into the school, and exited with her child a few minutes later. The guilty verdict on July 2 was the second time Taylor was convicted of the homicide. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students family and friends at this time.. Denise Civiletti. Some were friends of both Miss Morning and Miss Taylor, who has worked at several fast food restaurants since she graduated from Riverhead High in 1995, one year ahead of Miss Morning's class. Anyone can read what you share. She was also the subject of an order of protection to stay away from a woman in Southampton, but she violated the order and threatened to kill her, Mr. Suffolk County Police homicide squad detectives yesterday arrested Donatila O'Mahony, 41, of Central Islip in the March 8, 2020 shooting death of Lee Pedersen, 69, of Pine Avenue in Aquebogue. Let Patch save you time. The survival of local journalism depends on your support. Justice has been served," Patrina Morning said. The 16 years since her 17-year-old daughter Curtisha Morning was found . Send us a letter to the editor instead. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. /. Knowing what the climate [in schools] is nationally, its ridiculous that they havent held a drill all year., In an April 3 statement, Riverhead officials said the district is in compliance with the required drills up to this point in the school year. A month before Miss Morning disappeared, the police said, Miss Taylor assaulted Mr. Brown during an argument over Miss Morning, stabbing him in the back. "Some things will never change. 700 Harrison Ave Riverhead, NY 11901 Telephone: 631.369.6727/23 Grades: 9-12 RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- It's been more than 16 years since a Riverhead High School homecoming queen was killed in a frenzied rage. Members of Miss Morning's family said Mr. Brown was the father of Miss Taylor's 3-year-old son. Neighbors in the area, many overcome with emotion, told the News-Review that a fight broke out. The survival of local journalism depends on your support. Juliana Holguin is a journalist and editor of Tu Prensa Local. Police confirmed through a press release that a Riverhead High School student was arrested Friday afternoon for . The community has been heartbroken with grief after hearing of John's death. A scholarship fund at Riverhead High School is being set up in John Dennis Anderson's name, to honor his memory. Mr. Catterson said jealousy then drove Miss Taylor to stalk Miss Morning as she walked across the playing field to an early-morning nursing class, approach her from behind and repeatedly stab her in the back. Judge Pitts ordered that she be held without bail and return to court on June 30. RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) A Long Island woman has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for killing a high school homecoming queen in 1996. The AP participation rate at Riverheads High School is 18% . They put the wrong person in jail. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, head of the homicide squad, said a fist fight broke out among two groups believed to be teenagers or people in their early twenties. Please enter valid email address to continue. They said DNA tests on various samples were delayed by the demands on the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office and the police crime lab caused by the crash of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 and the need to identify crash victims. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Hours after a Suffolk Countyof killing Curtisha Morning 16 years ago, the weeks preceding the verdict were filled with the pain of having to relive her daughter's horrific last moments. You have to go back to your classroom and tell your teacher to lock the door. She said that her daughters teacher had no idea what was going on. The Riverhead community is mourning the sudden death Saturday of a 2022 Riverhead High School graduate who had an apparent cardiac arrest following a seizure, according to his family. The doctor came and said that he was very sorry, but that his heart had stopped working, that they were treating him, but if nothing happened, they were going to have to disconnect him from all the machines, Ruano said. Five weeks later her tall slender body was found punctured with 96 stab wounds on school grounds, near an athletic field and covered by branches and leaves. Rehashing the details of the tragedy have made the pain fresh, Morning said. Eighteen-year old Denis Ruano came home around midnight after visiting his girlfriend, looking completely normal, his father Melvin Enrique Ruano said. As of tomorrow, were in April, she said. Ms. Parsons said her daughter told her that the high school has not conducted a lockdown drill during this school year, an assertion that she said she finds disturbing. Historic Young Observatory reopens at Riverhead High School, Swastikas found on desks at Shoreham-Wading River High School, Editorial: Fentanyl-related arrests hark back to local horrors, Blotters: Flanders man charged with menacing after threatening someone with a box cutter, At mass shooter survival training at Riverhead theater, expert urges Run, hide, defend strategy, Public weighs in as town resumes completion of Riverhead master plan update. She has two sons. The alumni of Riverhead in Riverhead, New York are encouraged to use this site to relive their time in high school by sharing with former students and teachers of Riverhead High School. I called the emergency room, they came, and quickly started to provide first aid and resuscitation, but everything went so fast, I think he almost died here at home, the distraught father said. But the verdict brought some measure of closure. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Back in 1996, Curtisha Morning, a college-bound nursing student, high school senior and homecoming queen, mysteriously vanished. If convicted, she faces 25 years to life in prison. Send her an email: juliana@tuprensalocal.com. Prosecutors said she was stabbed dozens of times in a jealous rage. Sale price: $49.99. Denis was known to everyone as the friend they could call on when anyone needed help. Kalila Taylor was convicted for a second time last month of stabbing Morning in a fit of jealously in February 1996. Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide squad detectives at 631-852-6392or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. / CBS New York. After 10 minutes they came back and told us that there was nothing to do. A 15-year-old Riverhead High School student was fatally shot yesterday afternoon in Calverton. Justice for the murder was not swift. Weve been in school since September. Taylor is now 35 years old. Powers said. Originally convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder, Taylor's case was later thrown out after a judge allegedly gave the jury incorrect instructions during the initial trial. A 15-year-old Riverhead High School student was fatally shot yesterday afternoon in Calverton. Denis was known to everyone as the friend they could call on when anyone needed help. By Chris Francescani and Melissa Azofeifa. "How could there not be emotion in the court? I know she's innocent.''. The victim was a 17-year-old homecoming queen. It is our hope this second conviction will provide the Morning family with some measure of peace and closure, District Attorney Thomas Spota said. Curtisha Morning was even crowned the Riverhead High homecoming queen. "I feel bad for Ms. 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. The victim's mother, Viola Morning, left the courtroom saying: ''Finally, Kalila is getting what she deserves. Can you imagine what that's like for me? Riverhead Town police responded to Riverhead High School Friday after a threat of an altercation involving several students, according to the district superintendent. At least one student was taken into custody by police, Superintendent Augustine Tornatore wrote in a letter to families in the district. The shaken community, frantic that a sexual killer was on the loose, was stunned when Curtisha Morning's female classmate, Kalila Taylor, also 17 years old, was arrested and convicted in the vicious violent murder. She thankedSuffolk County Assistant District Attorney Janet Albertson. A Riverhead High School student was also recently arrested after he brought more than a dozen bullets, but no firearm to the school on March 31.