Man held in death of Mass. native

Police say suspect described details no one else knew

A New York City man nabbed by police early yesterday for allegedly stealing his father's Play-Station game console told arresting officers he killed a man days earlier, robbed him of several electronic devices, and then watched a movie before leaving the victim's apartment to sell the items. The victim, Kevin Pravia, a Western Massachusetts native, was an honor roll student at Pace University.

"Certainly he did tell the officers many things that only the person who committed this crime would know, including where he sold the cellphone," said Paul Browne, deputy commissioner of Public Affairs for the city's police department. Authorities recovered the cellphone yesterday from an electronics store.

The 22-year-old suspect was scheduled to be arraigned today. His name was not released yesterday afternoon because New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau had not yet filed a murder charge, according to Browne.

Browne said the suspect's father called authorities yesterday to report that his son had stolen the console.

While on the phone, the father saw his son in front of his apartment building. When police arrived a short time later, they arrested the son for the alleged theft of the PlayStation, and the son began to talk about Pravia. He told police that he met Pravia at Union Square Park, about a mile from Pravia's apartment on West 15th Street in Manhattan.

"The suspect claims that Pravia was asking for drugs," Browne said. The suspect told authorities that Pravia took him to his apartment and eventually fell asleep and that he saw an opportunity to rob Pravia, police said.

The suspect punched Pravia in the face, then put a cord around his neck, a plastic bag down his throat, and a pillow over his face, Browne said the suspect told police.

The suspect then watched the movie "Saw" before taking Pravia's laptop, cellphone, and iPod. The suspect allegedly sold the laptop on the street and the cellphone to a local store.

Based on the suspect's account, police recovered Pravia's cellphone, Browne said.

Browne said there was no indication that drugs were exchanged. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Pravia, 19, of Peru, Mass., was set to start his sophomore year at Pace and had returned last week to the apartment he shared with Josephine Madonna, another Massachusetts native, the Associated Press reported. Pravia's mother, Paula, traveled to New York on Monday.

The victim's 16-year-old brother, Michael, a junior at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, was recently awarded a scholarship to study abroad in Germany. He was scheduled to fly to Germany yesterday, but canceled his flight after learning of his brother's death.

Witnesses said Pravia appeared to be drunk when he was last seen leaving a party in Brooklyn, and had to be helped into a taxi. Madonna told authorities she returned to the apartment just after 6 p.m. on Sunday and discovered that Pravia, who was lying on a bed, was dead.

Pace University officials said they were saddened by the news and offered sympathy to Pravia's loved ones.

Grieving friends put together a Facebook page dedicated to the student and expressing shock over his death.

Pravia was a 2007 graduate of Wahconah, where counselors were available yesterday to help staff members and students. Principal James L. Conro described Pravia as a "quiet, polite, and respectful young man," according to the Associated Press.

"My heart goes out to the family," Conro said.

"It's a tough way to lose a son and a brother."