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Background: News footage of the Knickerbockers’ home in Hermon, N.Y. (WWNY). Inset: Hans Knickerbocker (St Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office).
Forty-year-old Hans Knickerbocker was taken into custody on February 25, accused of strangling his 63-year-old father, Philip Knickerbocker. The New York State Police reported that troopers were dispatched to the Hermon, New York residence around 7:49 p.m. after receiving a report about a deceased individual. Upon arrival, they discovered Philip Knickerbocker’s body and uncovered that a confrontation had occurred in the home earlier that day.
As detailed in court documents reviewed by local CBS station WWNY, a heated exchange between Philip Knickerbocker and his wife escalated to the point where he poured coffee over her head.
Authorities revealed that the argument revolved around marital issues and reportedly intensified when Philip Knickerbocker attempted to strike his wife post the coffee incident.
Police said the argument between Philip Knickerbocker and his wife was about their marriage. The verbal altercation reportedly became physical when Philip Knickerbocker attempted to punch his wife after pouring the coffee on her head.
According to the court documents, Hans Knickerbocker became involved in the fight and confronted his father after hearing the argument from his bedroom. The younger man allegedly beat his father with his fists before choking him with both hands. Hans Knickerbocker then allegedly put his full body weight on top of his father while his elbow was on the older man’s neck.
Police did not specify whether Philip Knickerbocker’s wife was the mother of Hans Knickerbocker.
An autopsy determined that Philip Knickerbocker died of asphyxia due to strangulation. After the autopsy ruled the death a homicide, Hans Knickerbocker was charged with second-degree murder.
Hans Knickerbocker was arraigned in the Town of Canton Court on Feb. 27 and booked into the St. Lawrence County Jail where he is being held without bail. His next court date was not publicly available.