Son Guilty In 87-Year-Old Mom's Beating Death

A Mount Vernon man has pleaded guilty today to manslaughter in the beating death of his 87-year-old mother.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Peter Herman, 56, of 485 E. Lincoln Ave., has admitted to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony, three counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person, a class “A” Misdemeanor, for recklessly causing the death of Claire Herman on Jan. 3, 2011.

Herman admitted to hitting his mother between Jan. 2 and 3, and between Dec. 1 and 23, 2010, and between July 13 and 14, 2010, in his apartment, where his mother lived with him.

Herman was arrested as a result of a Jan. 3 incident, when the superintendent of his building went to Herman’s apartment to check out a report of a loud noise that a neighbor had heard. Peter Herman answered the door and initially blocked access to the superintendent after saying that his mother had fallen again, DiFiore said.

The superintendent was able to enter the apartment and found Claire Herman in bed. The superintendent called 911 for help after spotting blood in Claire Herman’s hair.

Claire Herman was taken to Mount Vernon Hospital for treatment around 10 a.m. and was admitted. While there, DiFiore said Claire Herman stated that she and her son had had a fight.

Peter Herman was arrested by Mount Vernon police at 2:30 p.m. that day, admitting that he had hit his mother that day and in the past.

Claire Herman died at 10:40 p.m. on Jan. 3.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 20, in Westchester County Court. The maximum sentence on the top count of the indictment is 15 years in state prison.