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Psycho smashed grandma to death

The gunman who carried out yesterday’s senseless assault on volunteer firefighters near Rochester is no stranger to violence — he beat his 92-year-old grandmother to death.

Rose Spengler was found lying at the foot of her home’s basement stairs on July 19, 1980.

William H. Spengler Jr., then 30, went to a neighbor’s home and said Rose had fallen down the stairs.

But an autopsy revealed she had died of severe head injuries — and her grandson admitted he’d smashed her with a hammer during an argument.

He told cops he’d thrown the hammer into Lake Ontario.

He was indicted on a murder charge but allowed to remain free on $15,000 bail.

Then, just as his jurors were about to be brought into court, a judge OK’d a plea deal under which the killer would be charged with manslaughter.

Prosecutor Louis Pilato signed off on the bargain, saying, “The man has no prior criminal record and . . . the manslaughter charge doesn’t mean he’s getting away with the candy store.’’

Spengler wound up serving 17 years.

At his 1997 parole hearing, he appeared ambivalent about getting out, telling the board he came only because he thought it was mandatory.

“Then it’s not worth the time and effort,” he said. The next year, however, he was released.

Since being sprung in 1998, Spengler, 62, had spent his days caring for his ailing mom, Arline, until she died in October at 91.

In her obituary, she asked donations be made to the volunteer fire department.

Spengler spent his time doing household chores and feuding with his sister, Cheryl, 67.

“He told me he never liked his sister,” former neighbor Roger Vercruysse, 64, said. “He hated his sister — but loved his mama. Maybe when his mama passed away, he went nuts.”

Spengler lived off disability payments, Vercruysse said.

Cops want to learn about his medical history, including any psychological treatment.