Richard Cohen charged with stabbing his mother 41 times in torso and neck, killing her

Richard Cohen

An emotionally disturbed Brooklyn man who had feuded with his mother over money for years was arrested Sunday after stabbing her 41 times, killing her, police sources said.

Richard Cohen, 31, who has a history of mental illness, knifed his 64-year-old mom, Anne Cohen, repeatedly in the torso and neck about 10:50 p.m. Saturday, police said.

“There was a record of domestic incidents, domestic violence in that household between the son and the mother,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Sunday.

Richard Cohen was once sent to a mental hospital after threatening his mother with a knife amid one of many arguments over finances, neighbors said. Police said Anne Cohen had filed a harassment complaint against her son in 2005. But she had apparently forgiven him and was visiting his first-floor apartment on Ocean Ave. in Midwood on Saturday when a new argument over money erupted. This time, his rage was uncontrollable, police said.

Richard Cohen was still in his apartment when cops arrived soon after the stabbing, and he was arrested without incident. He was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge and held without bail, an official said.

Anne Cohen was rushed to New York Community Hospital, where she died. “I don’t know why she went over there at that time of night,” said friend Betsy Fares, 48.

“She was a little woman. She couldn’t fight that big kid.”

Anne Cohen came into wealth after selling the family’s three-story Bath Beach home for about $800,000, according to neighbors. She continued to live on the ground floor. She also had money from a medical malpractice suit over her husband’s death, neighbors added.

Her wealth enraged her mentally troubled son, who struggled to pay for his basic needs. “She would hide her jewelry if she bought herself something,” Fares said. “He was on a lot of medication. He was crazy.”

Richard Cohen was kicked out of the family’s Bath Beach home about a year ago because his mom didn’t approve of his girlfriend, neighbors said. He struggled to pay rent in his new home. “He had money problems,” said Anastisia Kuznetsova, 24, a cashier at a store near the mother’s home. “He tried to sell his watch for $200. He said he had to pay his rent. He never worked a day in his life.”

His new neighbors on Ocean Ave. said he and his girlfriend were unapproachable. “They wouldn’t reply when you say, ‘Hello,’ ” said Cindy Almor, 30. “They’re not sociable people.”

Richard Cohen appeared in a daze and refused to answer reporters questions as detectives led him from the 70th Precinct station house Sunday afternoon.

His brother, Michael Cohen, refused to comment Sunday. “I just saw my mother’s body,” he said. “Leave me alone.”

Boruch Dayan Emmes

By Simone Weichselbaum , Erik Badia AND Barry Paddock / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS