A husband and wife have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for the horrific murder and dismemberment of their two roommates in a case that shocked the community of Amityville, New York.
The Brutal Attack in the Shared Home
The violence erupted on February 27, 2024, when Malcolm Brown, 53, and his wife Donna Conneely, 59, returned to the home they shared with Jeffrey Mackey, 40, his girlfriend Alexis Nieves, 35, and Malcolm's cousin, Steven Brown. According to prosecutors, Nieves struck Conneely in the head with a meat tenderiser before stabbing her. Mackey then attacked Malcolm Brown, stabbing him in the neck and torso.
Grisly Discovery of Scattered Remains
The crime came to light just two days later when a student discovered a severed left arm in a park. This triggered a major investigation by Suffolk County authorities. Police soon found a second male arm nearby, and on the opposite side of the park, a female head and torso, a female arm, and parts of female legs. On March 5, 2024, more human remains were discovered at two additional sites, leading to the identification of the victims.
Investigators visited the shared home, where they found two meat cleavers and a large kitchen knife, along with blood evidence in multiple rooms. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated the victims were dismembered in the bathroom of the property. Steven Brown and his partner, Amanda Wallace, were implicated in helping to cut up and dispose of the bodies.
Sentencing and Claims of Abuse
All three main perpetrators pleaded guilty in April 2024. In court this week, Jeffrey Mackey was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. Alexis Nieves received an 11-year sentence for her role. Steven Brown was handed a five-year term for conspiracy.
Amanda Wallace had previously pleaded guilty to concealment of a human corpse and was sentenced to up to two years in jail in November last year.
The court heard that Mackey and Nieves were offered a plea deal, with their sentences reduced partly due to claims they had been physically, emotionally, and financially abused by the victims. Mackey's attorney reiterated this motivation. During the trial, Mackey expressed remorse, stating he wished the events had never happened.
However, the victims' family condemned the sentences as a "slap on the wrist", particularly criticising Steven Brown's five-year term for his involvement in the dismemberment and disposal of two people.
