An 88-year-old transgender woman was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday for the brutal murder and dismemberment of a fellow octogenarian, a case that shocked investigators with its graphic brutality and the killer's casual dispersal of body parts across Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Background
Harvey Marcelin, who identifies as a transgender woman, had been released from state prison in late 2019 after serving more than 50 years behind bars for two prior murder convictions involving ex-girlfriends dating back to 1963. Officials said both Marcelin and his victim, Susan Leyden, lived at the same Bronx homeless shelter in 2019 before reconnecting in Brooklyn.
Leyden, a down-on-her-luck jeweler, was last seen on surveillance footage entering Marcelin's Cypress Hills apartment on February 27, 2022, wheeling a multi-colored bag with a flower decal. Three days later, investigators say Marcelin stuffed her dismembered remains into garbage bags and began rolling through the neighborhood in his electric wheelchair.
An e-bike rider discovered Leyden's torso near the corner of Pennsylvania and Atlantic Avenues on March 3, 2022, prompting a murder investigation that would uncover the full scope of the killing. Police found the victim's thighs, hand, arm, and head in garbage bags inside Marcelin's apartment. One leg was recovered from a garbage can about three blocks away, while her right leg, left arm, and left hand were never recovered.
The Sentencing
A Brooklyn jury convicted Marcelin of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse last month. On Wednesday, Judge Dawn L. Morris imposed the maximum sentence: life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez addressed the court at sentencing. "The brutality of this shocking crime is almost beyond words," Gonzalez said in a statement. "This defendant committed a horrific murder that took Susan Leyden's life and inflicted unimaginable pain on her family and loved ones. He must be locked away, and today's sentence ensures that he will never be able to hurt anyone else again."
Prosecutors presented evidence that Marcelin bludgeoned Leyden to death before using a reciprocating saw to dismember her body in his apartment. Investigators say he then deposited portions of her remains across multiple locations—including rolling to a nearby 99-cent store while transporting parts of the victim inside his electric wheelchair.
Marcelin's extensive criminal history includes two previous murder convictions spanning five decades, raising questions about how he was released from prison in 2019 after vowing to stay out of trouble.
Key Takeaways
- Harvey Marcelin sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder of Susan Leyden, 68
- Victim dismembered with reciprocating saw at Marcelin's Cypress Hills apartment in February 2022
- Marcelin rode through Brooklyn neighborhood with victim's severed leg inside his electric wheelchair
- Convicted also of tampering with evidence and concealment of a human corpse
- Had previously served 50+ years in prison for two other murders dating back to 1963
- Released on parole in late 2019 before committing this latest killing
What's Next
The conviction and sentence conclude the criminal case against Marcelin, though his defense attorneys may pursue appeals. The case is expected to trigger scrutiny of New York's parole system given that Marcelin was released at age 86 despite his extensive violent history. Leyden's family attended Wednesday's sentencing and expressed relief that Marcelin will remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life.