A Long Island man who slit his throat after a Suffolk County police chase had also killed his father and sister — and had been living with the bodies for days, according to sources.
Bill Farnum, 43, was still on parole after being released from state prison last year on an attempted burglary case — and had five pending cases in Suffolk County — when he crashed into a pole in East Patchogue Tuesday morning while being chased by police, according to court and prison records. He slit his throat before officers could approach the car, cops have said.
When authorities went to notify his family of the apparent suicide, officers discovered the bodies of his dad and sister, who may have been inside the family’s home in Bellport for as long as 12 days, neighbors and sources told The Post.
Neighbors identified Farnum’s father as James Farnum and his sister as Amanda Farnum.
“She had mentioned he was a little crazy but in the same breath would say, ‘I love him,’ ” neighbor Nancy Farrell said. “They were quiet. You would see ambulance action once in a while. I think it was crazy inside but not outside.”
“He was in prison most of the time I’ve been living here but came back last year,” Farrell added.
State corrections records show that Bill Farnum served four stints in state prison, most recently a 4½-year term on an attempted burglary conviction, before he was released from Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock in May 2019.
Court records show he currently has five open cases in Suffolk County dating to July 14, the most recent a Sept. 8 bust when he was hit with a resisting arrest charge and cited for unlawful possession of marijuana.
His other arrests include felony charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property and various driving infractions.
“He’s been terrorizing the community for years,” said another neighbor, who asked not to be identified. “This is about as violent as it gets.”
Neighbors said they last saw Amanda Farnum on Sept. 25.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions about Farnum’s open cases and bail status.