THE BRONX — The former CUNY professor suspected of bludgeoning his mother to death with a hammer earlier this week has been found dead of an apparent suicide, with a note saying "I'm sorry" at his side, police officials and sources said.
John Rodriguez, 39, was discovered in a bathtub at the Friendly Motor Inn on East Gun Hill Road with apparent self-inflicted slash wounds to his wrist, sources said. The "I'm sorry" note was recovered near his body, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.
The gruesome discovery was made Wednesday about 12:50 p.m., less than a day after Rodriguez was believed to have murdered his 64-year-old mother, Magda Dagostino, sources added.
Dagostino was found inside her Perry Avenue apartment, near 211th Street in the Norwood section of The Bronx, about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Cops initially responded to the address after receiving a request for a wellness check.
Rodriguez taught English as an assistant professor at Queensborough Community College from 2011 to 2012, but did not have his contract renewed after the spring semester, sources said.