New York Woman Beheaded By Son: Murder-Suicide under Investigation After Mentally-Ill Son Brutally Beheads Mom, Jumps In Front Of Train After [VIDEO]

New York Woman Beheaded By Son - Police are investigating a possible murder-suicide Tuesday night after a college professor was brutally beheaded by her mentally-ill son in New York. Police said the son left the woman's body in the middle of the street before taking his own life by jumping in front of a commuter train, according to the Daily Mail.

The New York woman beheaded by son had been tentatively identified as 66-year-old Patricia Ward, an assistant professor at Farmingdale State College on Long Island, according to Detective Lt. John Azzata of the Nassau County Police in a statement to reporters Wednesday.

"It appears that this is a murder-suicide," said Azzata.

The son, Derek Ward, 35, decapitated his mother shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday with a kitchen knife in the second-floor apartment that they shared, according to Azzata. He added that Patricia was found with multiple stab wounds and broken ribs.

The body of the New York woman beheaded by son was then either carried or dragged down the stairs, through the lobby and left on the street outside of their Farmingdale apartment.

Later, her head was found about five feet from the body. Neighbors initially thought that the gruesome scene was part of a Halloween prank, reports CNN. The son reportedly kicked her head across the street.

"I literally thought it was a prank," said one neighbor, as reported to CNN affiliate WCBS. "We saw the body on one side and saw the head on the other side. I thought everything was a prank."

After less than a half hour that the body of the New York woman was found, Derek apparently jumped in front of a Long Island Rail Road train that was heading east from Penn Station in Manhattan, according to police.

"I saw the lady laying right in front and her head was across the street, close to the corner. I thought ''holy s***!''', a neighbour named Nick Gordon told the New York Post.

He added that the blood of the New York woman beheaded by son had been smeared down the stairs of the apartment block, making it evident that the body had indeed been dragged down from the apartment.

"The body's feet were at the curb, the shoulders were at the middle of the street. The head was across the street," said Jack Imperial, an onlooker riding a cab that night. "I've seen some gruesome stuff in my years of living... but nothing like this. I didn't expect to see something like this, especially not out here."

"It's insane," said a Farmingdale resident of the murder-suicide with a New York woman beheaded by son. "You never think something like that's going to happen right outside your doorstep."

Derek, unemployed, reportedly had a history of psychiatric problems for over 10 years. His condition became worse in recent years because of his maternal grandfather's death, said Azzata. The officer added that Derek had also been arrested in 2003 for criminal mischief, wherein he received a fine and probation.

Then in 2006, Derek was arrested for possessing a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. He also had a drug charge and got a 45-day sentence with three years' probation.

The incident of the New York woman beheaded by son case was unexpected as police said there were no reported domestic incidents at in the home of the Wards.

WABC reporter NJ Burkett tweeted a photo of the victim, reports the Huffington Post.

Patricia, the New York woman beheaded by son, was an assistant professor helping high school students prepare for college.

"Patricia Ward was a member of the campus for 28 years," said Patrick Calabria, college vice president for institutional advancement and enrolment via statement. "She was well-known, well-liked and well-respected. The campus is a very sad place today."

"We did not know anything about her family life," he also told CNN. "We are all in shock."

The motive into the case of the New York woman beheaded by son remains under investigation.

Watch a video of police investigating the scene of the murder-suicide here.