January 7, 1999

FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN GLENDALE LAUNDROMAT KILLING

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the arrest of a 19 year old Florida man on charges of murdering a Glendale laundromat attendant during a robbery at the Myrtle Avenue store.

District Attorney Brown said, "This was a vicious crime committed against a hardworking woman who was alone working at her job on the evening of December 30th. I was at the scene of the homicide shortly after it occurred; it was one of the most brutal I have ever seen."

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Michael Mikucki, 19. At the time of the crime he was living in Glendale with a relative at 89-01 Myrtle Avenue. He is charged with murder in the first and second degrees; robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon. District Attorney Brown said that, according to provisions of the state's first degree murder statute, he must decide within 120 days of the defendant's indictment whether or not to seek the death penalty or a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole upon the defendant's conviction. Murder in the second degree carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison.

According to the District Attorney, at about 6:00 p.m. on the evening of December 30th, the defendant entered the Parkway Laundromat at 87-21 Myrtle Avenue in Glendale and confronted the attendant, 30 year old Millicent Lemmie. He asked her for change of a $5.00 bill and, it is charged, when she went to the store's money box to make change the defendant pulled out a hatchet, demanded all of the money, and began hitting the victim in the head with the hatchet. The victim collapsed on the floor and it is alleged, the defendant then slit the victim's throat with a fishing knife.

The defendant was arrested yesterday by Det. John Collins of the 104th Precinct Detective Squad which is under the command of Captain Bernard Gillespie.

The defendant was ordered held without bail after his arraignment before Criminal Court Judge Darrell Garvin.

Assistant District Attorney Neil P. Fenton of the District Attorney's Homicide Investigations Bureau, which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Peter T. Reese and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak, is in charge of the case.

It is to be noted that an arrest is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.