NY woman accused of murdering, mutilating stepfather

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York City woman allegedly strangled and sexually mutilated her stepfather, and then checked herself into the psych ward of a local hospital, a police spokesman said on Monday.

The mutilated body of Eric Goodridge, 55, was discovered on Saturday afternoon at the Queens home of his 26-year-old stepdaughter, Brigitte Harris. Goodridge had been strangled, the New York Medical Examiner's office said.

Officials suspect that Harris cut off Goodridge's penis after he was dead because he did not bleed to death.

Harris was discovered in the New York borough of Staten Island, where she had checked herself into a hospital psychological ward, the Queens District attorney's office said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing but that they planned to arrest Harris once she was released from the hospital.

Notes that seemed to accuse Goodridge of abuse were found in Harris' apartment, the New York Daily News newspaper reported. One note said: "At first, I blamed myself. Now I know it's not my fault." Another read: "He wrecked my life."