Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for the Murder of Susan Leyden on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Sentencing

On June 10, 2026, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced Harvey Marcelin, 88, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Marcelin had been convicted the previous month of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse. The victim was Susan Leyden, 68, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said at sentencing: "He must be locked away, and today's sentence ensures that he will never be able to hurt anyone else again."

The case took four years from the discovery of Leyden’s remains in March 2022 to sentencing on June 10, 2026. A jury deliberated for just one hour before returning a guilty verdict in May 2026.

What Happened

February 27, 2022. Surveillance footage captured Susan Leyden entering Marcelin’s apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York. She was never seen leaving alive.

March 2, 2022. Surveillance footage showed Marcelin rolling a wheeled shopping bag containing a black plastic bag out of the building.

March 3, 2022, early morning. Leyden’s torso was discovered inside that black plastic bag. A subsequent search of Marcelin’s apartment recovered her head and limbs. Police also found blood, cleaning supplies, a hammer, and the box from an electric saw.

Around this time. Separate surveillance footage showed Marcelin purchasing a saw and cleaning supplies at a Home Depot in Manhattan around the time of Leyden’s disappearance.

March 7, 2022. One of Leyden’s legs was found near a garbage can approximately three blocks from the apartment.

The Medical Examiner determined Leyden died from blunt force trauma to the head. Marcelin was 83 years old at the time of the murder. The investigation was led by Detective Thomas Pisano of the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad and Detective David Quattrocchi of the 75th Precinct Detective Squad. Prosecutors were ADA Leila Rosini, Chief of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior ADA Viviane Dussek.

Who Susan Leyden Was

Susan Leyden was 68 years old. She lived in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. She was someone’s neighbor, someone’s family member, someone’s friend. In the coverage of this case, her name appeared most often alongside words like “victim” and “remains.” She deserves more than that. The East New York Times extends its condolences to her family and everyone who knew her.

Who Harvey Marcelin Is

This was not Marcelin’s first conviction for murder. It was his third.

In October 1963, he was convicted of first-degree murder in Manhattan for fatally shooting a woman. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole and released in 1984 after 21 years. In 1986, he was convicted of manslaughter for killing another woman and served additional prison time. He was on parole at the time of Susan Leyden’s murder in 2022.

The 1963 conviction formed the legal basis for the first-degree murder charge in this case under New York State law, which allows a prior murder conviction to elevate a subsequent charge.

Pennsylvania Avenue

Pennsylvania Avenue is one of East New York’s main corridors. Community Board 5 Brooklyn meets at 127 Pennsylvania Avenue. The street runs through the center of the neighborhood. The murder happened here. Leyden’s remains were found here and nearby. That is a documented fact, not an inference.

For anyone who lives on or near this street and has been affected by the details of this case, mental health support is available below. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness.

If You Need to Talk to Someone

What Comes Next

Marcelin will die in prison. The sentence is final. For the legal system, this case is over.

For East New York, the questions that cases like this raise do not disappear with a verdict. How does a neighborhood process something this disturbing happening on its main street? What support exists for residents who were affected? What does public safety actually look like on Pennsylvania Avenue going forward?

The East New York Times will keep reporting on public safety in this community. If you have a story tip, a concern about safety on your block, or want to share how this case affected you, contact us at info@eastnewyorktimes.com.