The woman who was beheaded Tuesday night at her Long Island apartment complex was a beloved professor at Farmingdale State College who was killed by her psychologically disturbed son, police sources said on Wednesday.
Patricia Ward, 66 — a 28-year veteran faculty member who taught language arts at the college — was decapitated by Derek Ward, 35, who lived with her, police sources said.
Derek Ward , who has a criminal record including gun charges, allegedly hacked her head off with a knife and kicked it across the street before throwing himself in front of a LIRR train, said Detective Lieutenant John Azzata of Nassau homicide.
“Mr. Ward has a psychiatric history dating back approximately 10 years. It exacerbated itself within the last year … It just seemed to be he was acting out,” Azzata said.
A knife believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at the scene, Azzata said.
Friends and co-workers mourned Ward’s death on Wednesday, calling it heartbreaking.
“We are in shock,” Patrick Calabria, vice president of institutional advancement at Farmingdale State College told The Post.
“The staff in her department is teary-eyed. We are providing counseling to the staff who need it. It’s a very sad day. A lot of people are taking it very hard,” he said.
Derek Ward’s body was found about a mile from the murder scene, cops said.
A former neighbor of the family called their relationship unusual.
“I knew something wasn’t exactly normal, but I don’t like to judge … You’d notice they were always together. I didn’t know if he lived with his mom because he was in some sort of mental state,” the neighbor said.
“I did notice that it did seem she was very protective, making sure he had certain things. I’d hear her ask ‘do you have your wallet?’ that type of thing,” the neighbor added.
He was arrested 2003 for criminal mischief and was put on probation.
In 2006, he was charged with possession of Smith and Wesson gun and 100 Valium pills and received 45 days in jail, police sources said.
Ward’s severed head and body were found on Secatogue Avenue near Eastern Parkway at around 7:55 p.m. on Tuesday, police sources said.