Wake for college professor killed by son in Farmingdale, Long Island

FARMINGDALE (WABC) -- A wake will be held Monday night for the Farmingdale professor killed by her son, before he killed himself.

Services for 66-year old Patricia Ward will take place at McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home in Farmingdale from 3 to 8 p.m.

Her funeral will be held Tuesday morning.

Police say Ward's 35-year old son Derek, who was said to be mentally ill, decapitated her before throwing himself in front of a Long Island Rail Road train.

Patricia Ward was a professor and former dean at SUNY Farmingdale.

Police say it appears that Patricia Ward was stabbed then dragged down the hallway, then out into the street and beheaded.

No domestic issues had been reported, according to authorities. No motive has been determined, but a knife was recovered at the scene.

A specific psychiatric condition was unspecified, but police say it was "exacerbated due to the death of his paternal grandfather in August 2013." He has prior arrest record for gun possession and drug possession.

There is no link to terrorism, police said.