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Lagrangeville resident Christian Walcyzk pleaded guilty on Sept. 17 to manslaughter for the stabbing death in May last year of Daniel Siino, a 28-year-old father who lived in Hartsdale. On Wednesday, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. announced that Walcyzk has been sentenced to 14 years in state prison.
He was initially scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 14, but that was delayed to Wednesday, Nov. 28. No reason for the delay was provided.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. on May 27 last year, Siino and his wife were driving southbound on the parkway in their SUV when they encountered Walcyzk, who was heading in the same direction in his BMW. During the ride, Walcyzk pulled in front of Siino and slammed on his brakes, forcing Siino to follow suit.
Siino attempted to pass Walcyzk, but the 22-year-old would not allow it, the statement said. The two men pulled their cars onto the shoulder of the Taconic State Parkway near the Briarcliff Manor exit in Mount Pleasant.
Siino got out of his car to confront Walcyzk, who also got out, brandishing a fake police badge and a concealed knife behind his back, Scarpino said.
The two got in each others’ faces and Walcyzk stabbed Siino twice in the chest, accidentally slicing his finger in the process, according to Scarpino. Siino got back into his car, and told his wife he had been stabbed. She helped him into the passenger seat, pulled away and called 911. Siino died farther down the parkway when his wife eventually pulled over.
Walcyzk drove off and also called 911, claiming he had been the victim of a stabbing, according to Scarpino. He was located and transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injury. Further investigation led to his arrest, and he was transported to the New York State Police barracks in Hawthorne for booking.
In court on Tuesday, members of Siino's family spoke of the impact of Walcyzk's actions.
The victim’s brother, Joseph, and his sister, Melissa, spoke to the court on behalf of the Siino’s wife and extended family including his toddler daughter, who was 15-months-old when her father was killed. Ms. Siino told the court of their loss that a “piece of us died that night on the cold pavement” along with him.
But she said their concern is mostly for the little girl. She told the defendant, “Your selfish and cruel action denied her her father.”
“You took so much from his daughter,” Judge Barry Warhit said when announcing the sentencing. He called Walczyk’s actions “brazen” and an “ego issue,” he added, “You destroyed a family and took a life.”
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