Former Commack Woman Pleads Guilty to Murdering Disabled Son

A former Commack resident admitted Thursday that she killed her disabled son by repeatedly stabbing him with a knife and striking him with a hammer, according to the Albany County district attorney. However, she can’t remember doing it. 

Tracey Zetzsche, 53, who now lives in Westerlo, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a class B violent felony, in Albany court Thursday.

The district attorney said that on July 26, 2012 the defendant killed her son, Gabriel Philby-Zetzsche, 22, a 2009 graduate of Commack High School, who had cerebral palsy and lived with his mother. An aunt discovered Philby-Zetzsche’s body in the apartment five days later, District Attorney P. David Soares stated.

According to a report by The Albany Times Union, bloodstained weapons were discovered in a garbage bag in an outdoor trash bin. Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh also told the paper that Zetzsche had incriminating cuts on her palm and scalp, which showed Zetzsche accidentally cut herself with a knife blade. 

While Zetzsche pleaded guilty to the crime, she cannot remember the attack due to amnesia at the time of her son’s death, the report stated. Judge Steven Herrick told the paper that mental health experts for both the defense and prosecution examined Zetzsche and reached the same conclusion about her memory loss. Due her inability to remember the events, the judge allowed Zetzsche to make the plea deal and not risk conviction on a second-degree murder charge that could have sent her prison for 25 years to life. 

A family member told the Times Union that Zetzsche and her son were very close and never fought. He said he thought Zetzsche was becoming increasingly stressed over money. 

The judge noted in his questioning that Zetzsche suffered from depression. She was several months behind in rent and was in the process of moving, according to the Times Union.

Zetzsche now faces up to 20 years in State Prison, to be followed by 5 years of post release supervision when sentenced on Nov. 1.

A memorial Facebook page was set up to remember Philby-Zetzsch, in which he was described as a kind-hearted person, who was known for giving high-fives and rooted for his favorite teams, the Yankees and Knicks.