Garden City Man Convicted of Strangling Elderly Mother

A Garden City man was found guilty of strangling his 88-year-old mother to death, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's office.

After five hours of deliberation, a jury found James Olsen, 59, guilty of second-degree murder Thursday.

Olsen is due to be sentenced June 27 by Nassau County Court Judge Angelo Delligatti. He could be sentenced to between 15 years to life and 25 years to life in prison.

Olsen was arrested and charged April 21, 2011 in his College Place home after calling 911 and telling police he had strangled his mother, cops said.

Responding officers from Nassau County and Garden City Police departments said they found Ruth Olsen dead with a tie around her neck. James Olsen also had self-inflicted slash wounds to his wrists and neck, detectives said.

Garden City defense attorney Paul Delle laid out an insanity defense during Olsen's trial this month and claimed his client "didn't have murderous intent," Newsday reported.

Assistant District Attorney Christine Geier claimed Olsen acted like a "cold blooded killer" who put much thought into killing his mother, the report says.

"She woke up as he was doing this and said to him, 'You're choking me.' And he pulled tighter," Geier said, according to Newsday.

"Caring for an elderly loved one can be very difficult, but James Olsen had no right to murder his mother," DA Kathleen Rice said in a statement Thursday. "This verdict ensures he will be held accountable for this crime."

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