NYC Man: Alter-Ego Killed Son, Wife

'Roberto' vowed to do wrong; relatives say baloney
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2009 3:00 AM CST
NYC Man: Alter-Ego Killed Son, Wife
Daniel, David and Edna Herrarte. David (center) was not at home when his brother and mother were killed.   (Herrarte family)

When New York cops busted a Manhattan hotel janitor in the murder of his wife and 14-year-old son, he had one defense: his imaginary alter-ego "Roberto" did it. Otto Herrarte admitted stuffing the bodies in garbage bags at his Queens home, but said Roberto slit their throats. "I am Otto, but I have Roberto inside of me who is responsible," Herrarte told a Queens detective, according to a statement. "Roberto killed Edna and Dan."

Herrate said his alter-ego began speaking to him when he was a child and "then took control of my body," reports the New York Daily News. Relatives say Herrarte has never exhibited signs of a split personality and claim he simply wanted to dispose of his wife so he could continue an affair with a fellow worker at the Helmsley Hotel.
(More crime stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X