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Garden City Man Sentenced for Killing Mother

A man who fatally strangled his 88-year-old mother in their Garden City home and then tried to commit suicide three years ago was sentenced Monday to 17 years to life in prison.

A jury had found James Olsen guilty in Nassau County court of second-degree murder.

“This tragedy could have been averted if Mr. Olsen had just reached out for help instead of lashing out against his ailing mother,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.

Prosecutors said that Olsen was a live-in caretaker for his mother, Ruth, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, when he used a necktie to strangle her on the morning of April 21, 2011.

Police found Olsen with self-inflicted slash wounds to his wrists before he was arrested.