OCEAN BREEZE — The suspect in the home invasion that left one man stabbed to death and his wife injured was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination at his arraignment Tuesday, prosecutors said.
Dante Viggiano, 20, who originally gave police the name "Jonathan Rameriz," was charged with murder, attempted murder, burglary and false impersonation at a hearing video-conferenced to his Staten Island University Hospital North bedside on Tuesday, a Staten Island District Attorney spokesman said.
On Sunday, Viggiano broke into the Venus Place home of retiree Peter Gialluisi and his wife, Vincenza Gialluisi, 66, shortly after 9 p.m., court papers show. When Viggiano came upon the couple, he stabbed them multiple times in the head and neck with a knife, according to court papers.
Peter Gialluisi was transported to Staten Island University Hospital South, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Vincenza Gialluisi was listed in stable condition at Staten Island University Hospital North.
When questioned by the police at the 123rd Precinct Monday, Viggiano gave the fake name and phony birth date to officers, the complaint said.
His defense attorney, Eric Nelson, declined to comment for this story.
Neighbors remembered the Gialluisis on Monday as a "kind and generous" couple and said they had just come back from celebrating their birthdays — one on Monday and the other on Tuesday — at their son's home in New Jersey before the break-in.
"They were wonderful people," said neighbor Peter Pati. "I was so shocked."
Another neighbor said Peter Gialluisi had health issues and required a walker to get around.
Viggiano was held without bail and is due back in court on Sept. 29, the DA's spokesman said.