Dad in Dix Hills murder speaks out about son accused in murder of son

DIX HILLS, N.Y. (WABC) -- Charles Okonkwo said when he walked into his family home in Dix Hills July 19, his son Bradley didn't answer.

"I started calling, 'Bradley, I'm home', usually he would answer," he said.

Minutes later, he found his youngest dead in an upstairs bedroom.

But even now, Okonkwo said his 15-year-old's spirit still fills the home.

"I've seen him, I was here sitting and something flashed, whissss," he said. "I said, 'Bradley, come over.' Sometimes, I'll be in my bedroom, I'll say, 'Bradley, come and lay in the bed with me, I'm alone Bradley,' and he will."

After finding his son dead, Okonkwo then made another gut-wrenching discovery: He found his wife, Chinwe, a prominent doctor both in the United States and in Nigeria, was barely alive in the garage.

"When I lifted the garage door, oh my god, that's my wife lying in a pool of blood, dried, swollen," he said.

Charles Jr., now 19, was arrested not far from the home and was charged with nearly beating his mother to death. She remains in a coma.

His son is troubled kid, his dad said, and is schizophrenic. At times, he refused to take his medication and had June, lashed out at Bradley and nearly choked him to death.

"He was so strong, I can't even take off his hand," said Okonkwo.

When they were children, Bradley followed Charles Jr. everywhere. On Tuesday night, during an interfaith service, the playful teen will be remembered.

"We'll find out just how many people Brad touched," said the Rev. Michael Bartolomeo, Trinity Episcopal Church. "You don't know much you've touched in a community until something like this happens."

Okonkwo said that when he goes to visit his son for the first time in jail, he has just one question.

"Why did you do this? Why did you do this?" said his father.