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Man Charged with Attempted Murder in Attack on 82-Year-Old Aunt

By Tom Liddy | June 16, 2011 1:36pm | Updated on June 16, 2011 5:53pm

By Ben Fractenberg and Tom Liddy

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — The man accused of mugging his elderly aunt in Harlem was charged Thursday with attempted murder, police said.

Larry Brown, 57, was also hit with assault, burglary and robbery charges in connection with the shocking attack on his aunt, Mazie Garris, 82, at her West 139th Street home on Strivers Row.

At his arraignment Thursday, Assistant District Attorney John Choate said that Brown has a "history of violence," serving time for a 1990 manslaughter arrest in The Bronx.

Brown, who is homeless and struggled with drug addiction, according to neighbors, allegedly attacked Garris Monday after she let him in to her home.

Once inside, the suspect allegedly whipped out a knife and demanded cash. 

When Garris refused, he attacked her, "cutting and stabbing at his aunt," Choate said. He allegedly stabbed her in the head, police said.

Hearing the commotion, the victim's husband, Boatman rushed downstairs.

That's when the suspect threatened to kill his aunt unless the couple gave him money, the prosecutor said.

Brown then allegedly tied up Garris and went upstairs with her husband, who gave him a substantial amount of money.

When they went back downstairs, they discovered that the elderly woman had escaped.

"This is a very serious case," said Choate. "Once convicted, the defendant will probably spend the rest of his life in jail.

Brown, who was held without bail, faces up to life in prison if convicted on the top charge.

His lawyer, John Christie said that Brown hasn't had any arrests since 1998.