Long Island murder: Man charged with drowning his own mother in family pool

(AndreVisser/iStock)

A man in Long Island, New York has been charged with murder after his mother’s body was found in the swimming pool at their family home.

Denis Cullen Jr, 23, was arrested Wednesday after police found the body of 63-year-old Elizabeth Cullen in the backyard of their $1.9 million Cold Spring Harbor house, a wealthy neighbourhood on the North Shore.

Police responded to a request to check on Ms Cullen's welfare at 4pm and arrested her son just hours later. They have not disclosed who made the phone call.

Authorities believe Ms Cullen was intentionally drowned by her son. The Suffolk County Homicide Squad is currently investigating the case.

"The evidence suggests that she was intentionally drowned as the call indicated,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini told NBC New York. “While we were processing the scene, the suspect returned to the home and we placed him under arrest.”

Celebrities live throughout the affluent Long Island neighbourhood including singer-songwriter Billy Joel, Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, and the Bee Gees co-founder Robin Gibb.

Mr Cullen is scheduled to appear in court on Friday to face a second-degree murder charge.