THE BRONX — Police are looking for a former CUNY English professor they believe savagely beat his mother to death with a hammer inside her Norwood apartment, cops said.
Magda Dagostino, 64, was found battered inside her Perry Avenue apartment, near 211th Street, about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, police said.
"I didn't see her for a few days," said neighbor Jose Reyes, 33, who added that he would exchange pleasantries with Dagostino while taking out the trash. "I thought she was sick."
Dagostino was already dead when authorities arrived at her home.
Officers found a hammer next to the bed, sources said.
Cops are looking for Dagostino’s son, John Rodriguez, in connection with the killing, sources added.
Rodriguez taught English as an assistant professor at Queensborogh Community College from 2011 to 2012, sources confirmed. His contract was not renewed after the spring semester, sources said.
On the website, Ratemyprofessor.com, the instructor received mostly negative reviews.
"If you are taking him get ready to suffer. His class was so boring & he expects you to write perfect, he doesn't help you," wrote one former student. Another called him an "ass," but recommended the class because "he makes his class very interesting."
Neighbors were shocked to hear about the murder.
"I never see her with anybody, really," Reyes said. "She was very quiet. We would say hi but she kept to herself. Very quiet."
Police initially responded to the address after receiving a request for a wellness check.
Janon Fisher contributed to this article.
