Police: Bronx Murder Suspect Had Photo Of Self Holding Mom's Severed Head
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Bronx man accused of killing his mother and then dismembering her body says he did nothing wrong.
Dressed in a large garbage bag, Bahsid McLean, 23, was arraigned Thursday on murder, hindering prosecution and criminal possession of a weapon charges. He was ordered held without bail. His next court appearance will be on March 4.
His attorney, Jerry Iannece, said McLean was wearing the garbage bag because he had been urinating on himself and had no other clean clothing. He also said his client is off his medication and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
McLean stabbed his mother, 45-year-old Tanya Byrd, and then cut up her body with help from his friend, 26-year-old William Harris, according to the criminal complaint.
"I didn't do anything wrong,'' McLean said during court.
Police also said Thursday that McLean had a photo on his cellphone of him holding his mother's severed head.
Byrd's remains were found in a trash bag by a man out walking his dog around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday near East 156th Street and Eagle Avenue in Melrose, police said.
The dog was attracted to the scent coming from one of the bags and when the man opened it, he found the remains and called 911.
When officers arrived with cadaver dogs, they found body parts inside heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and inside a duffel bag among the piles of trash, police said. The remains were found in at least four different locations, police said.
McLean and Harris were arrested Wednesday on charges of unlawfully dissecting a human body and hindering prosecution. Police later added the murder charge for McLean. Authorities said each man initially implicated the other in the killing.
Inside Byrd's apartment she shared with her son, investigators said they found a blade and other suspicious items. A saw was found in Harris' home, authorities said.
Harris was also arraigned Thursday and ordered held without bail. He was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of marijuana. His next court appearance will be on March 4.
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