Timothy J. Ginocchetti, a senior engineering major, was charged with second-degree murder this morning at Manlius Town Court after allegedly stabbing his mother to death at about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Police arrived at the Ginocchetti home in Manlius at about 11:30 p.m. after receiving a phone call from Timothy Ginocchetti. At the request of the police, Ginocchetti left the home and was then taken into custody.

The body of Timothy Ginocchetti’s mother, Pamela Ginocchetti, was found inside the home, and she was pronounced dead on site.

Timothy Ginocchetti is the son of John Ginocchetti, formerly of the Fayetteville Fire Department, who died in a house fire in Pompey, N.Y., along with Timothy J. Lynch, on March 7, 2002.

The community raised more than $300,000 to support both the Ginocchetti and Lynch families. Timothy Ginocchetti was given a scholarship to attend Syracuse University, where he made the dean’s list last semester.

Kevin Morrow, Syracuse University spokesman and director of SU News Services, could not be reached for comment.

Chancellor Nancy Cantor sent an e-mail on Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. to inform SU students about the incident.

‘All of us are shocked and saddened by this tragic news,’ Cantor said in the e-mail, ‘and our thoughts are with the Ginocchetti family during this extremely difficult time. Clearly, there is real tragedy at the heart of this incident.’

Cantor offered a list of counseling services available to the campus community for support, including the Counseling Center (443-4715), Hendricks Chapel (443-2901) and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (443-1087).

Published on August 23, 2006 at 12:00 pm