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NYC Man: Alter-Ego Killed Son, Wife

'Roberto' vowed to do wrong; relatives say baloney

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 24, 2009 3:00 AM CST

(Newser) – When New York cops busted a Manhattan hotel janitor in the murder of his wife and 14-year-old son, he had one defense: his imaginary alter-ego "Roberto" did it. Otto Herrarte admitted stuffing the bodies in garbage bags at his Queens home, but said Roberto slit their throats. "I am Otto, but I have Roberto inside of me who is responsible," Herrarte told a Queens detective, according to a statement. "Roberto killed Edna and Dan."

Herrate said his alter-ego began speaking to him when he was a child and "then took control of my body," reports the New York Daily News. Relatives say Herrarte has never exhibited signs of a split personality and claim he simply wanted to dispose of his wife so he could continue an affair with a fellow worker at the Helmsley Hotel.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Daniel, David and Edna Herrarte. David (center) was not at home when his brother and mother were killed. (Herrarte family)

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I told him it was his time to go away and he was mad and told me he was going to do this bad thing.
- Otto Herrarte talking about
"alter ego" Roberto

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NYC Man: Alter-Ego Killed Son, Wife