'Devastating': Son Who Murdered Mom, Dumped Her Body In Woods Stabbed Her 10X Post Mortem: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — The son of a woman found dead in the woods in Manorville — who was arrested and charged with her murder — appeared in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead Friday, where he was indicted on a second-degree murder charge, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Curtis Trent, Jr. 36, of Riverhead, appeared before Judge Richard Horowitz at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court complex. He pleaded not guilty, his attorney said.

According to Suffolk County police, Trent Jr. was arrested after his mother, Kathleen Harrison Trent, 63, was found dead in a wooded area on Connecticut Avenue in Manorville on Feb. 11 after a frantic search that lasted days.

(Curtis Trent, Jr. / Courtesy Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

Following an investigation by Suffolk County homicide squad detectives, Trent Jr., of 61 Forge Road, Riverhead, was charged with second-degree murder, police said.

In addition to the murder charge, Trent also faces charges including concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, conceal/destroy, the prosecution said.

Trent, wearing a green prison uniform, stood quietly by his attorney Tara Laterza, family members in the courtroom behind him.

The prosecution said that Harrison Trent was last seen on Jan. 27; on Jan. 29, Robert Trent, her other son, responded to her Forge Road Home in Calverton.

"At that time, he entered the trailer and saw blood," the prosecution said, adding that 911 and Riverhead police were called. Robert, the prosecution said, "informed them that Curtis was the only other person who resided with their mother."

During a "cursory" search of the home, "red stains that appeared to be blood" were seen on the floor of the home and on a male sneaker, the prosecution said.

While Harrison Trent's vehicle was missing, her wallet, cell phone and vital medications were still in the home, the assistant district attorney said.

"The overall appearance" of the home spooke to "an act of violence within," the prosecution said.

A search warrant was issued and items were collected, including the blood-stained sneaker, the ADA said.

"Law enforcement tried to locate her without success," the ADA said.

At one point, Trent returned to his mother's home in her 2017 Chevy Colorado pickup and was met with law enforcement, the prosecution said.

"He told them he was looking for his mother and would harm himself if something had happened," the prosecution said. "Due to those threats of self-harm," Trent was told he needed to be taken for psychiatric evaluation, the prosecution said.

On Jan. 30, the pickup was impounded and a search yielded several stains that "looked like blood on the back of the tail pipe," the prosecution said.

Later searches in Calverton on Mill Road led to the discovery of items of clothing that had blood on them, the prosecution said.

Blood samples from the kitchen floor, the sole of the sneaker, the tail pipe and a gray, striped sweater all matched Harrison Trent's DNA, the prosecution said; they also matched Trent, Jr.'s DNA, the ADA said.

On Feb. 11, Harrison Trent's body was found 12 miles from home, "25 feet off the side of the road, wrapped in a blanket. She was pronounced dead. Her body was frozen," the prosecution said. An autopsy done on February 14 determined that she had sustained stab wounds on her torso, face, and neck — "and more than 10 sharp force injuries post mortem," the prosecution said, adding that she'd been tossed into the snow.

Due to the fact that, if convicted, Trent faces 25 years to life in prison, and his "intention to murder his mother" as well as the "depraved nature of his state of mind," and that he had gone to "grave heights to conceal evidence, and no amount of bail would be sufficient to secure his return to court," the prosecution asked that Trent be remanded without bail.

Laterz told the judge that her client should be afforded the "presumption of innocence" and said he was supported by members of his family, including his father and cousin, in the courtroom.

The judge ordered Trent remanded without bail, based on the court's assessment of his flight risk, the history of activities and whether harm was caused. "Someone's life was taken," he said.

Trent's next court date was set for April 22.

"Today’s indictment reflects our commitment to seeking justice in the face of a deeply disturbing act of domestic violence," said Tierney. "The defendant is charged, not only with taking his mother’s life, but with attempting to conceal the crime and hide her body. Tragically, it was another family member who discovered that the victim was missing and found blood inside the home; an unimaginable and heartbreaking experience. Domestic violence, in any form, is devastating."

Speaking with Patch outside the courthouse, Trent's brother, Robert, was somber. Referencing his brother, he said, "The doctors need to be held responsible," and said a wide discussion needed to be had about mental health issues.

Harrison Trent, who was reported missing to the Riverhead Town Police Department on January 29, was identified as the woman found dead in a wooded area in Manorville on February 11 after a desperate search, police said.

On January 29, Trent’s other son Robby reported that he had not seen or heard from his mother since the evening of Tuesday, January 27, police said. Trent was last seen at her residence, located at 61 Forge Road in Riverhead, police said.

On February 11, police said an investigation was ongoing regarding the circumstances leading to the death of the woman found in a wooded area on Connecticut Avenue, south of River Road, at 3:21 p.m.

Seventh Precinct Patrol units were searching the area, when they discovered the body of an adult female, police said.

Following a preliminary investigation, detectives said they believed the cause of death to be criminal in nature, police said.

The community has come together to wrap their arms and hearts around those who loved Riverhead's Harrison Trent, who was tragically found deceased after having been missing for days.

A GoFundMe, "A Proper Farewell for Robby’s mother Kathleen Harrison Trent" was created by Adrieanna Bulak.

"My husband Robby’s mother Kathleen Harrison Trent died January 27," she wrote. "She was missing and police didn’t find her body until February 11. She was a loving, caring mother and an amazing friend."

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

The community has been devastated after Trent's loss.

"Every racetrack has a core group of dedicated individuals who keep things running smoothly on race night, or between race meets, Riverhead Raceway wrote on their Facebook page.

"Riverhead Raceway has been blessed for many years to have Kathi Trent as one of those loyal people who'll do anything for the betterment of the show. Most of you recall Kathi, decked out in her yellow Event Staff shirts, keeping folks back from the fence, or ushering people to and from victory lane, but there was so much more."

The post continued: "Kathi was part of the fabric of our beloved track, for generations. She knew families, from the parents to their children and yes, even their grandchildren. She'd know them by name, ask how they were doing, how the family was — she genuinely cared. It's just who she was. If help was needed on race night in the concession stand, there was Kathi chipping in. If help was needed during the week preparing the facility for the next race meet, there was Kathi chipping in. Sadly, our Riverhead Raceway family was devastated by news of her passing. Kathi was such an integral part of who we are and what we do, we loved her as much as she loved us. Rest easy, Miss Kathi .We will forever miss you, but we shall never, ever forget you."

"My beautiful, loving, caring friend," another woman wrote. "She would have given you her last dime, the shirt off her back! Oh, my dear friend, I will forever keep you near and dear to my heart. Love you Kathi. Fly high, beautiful."