NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Nicholas McGee was extradited back to Brooklyn to be arraigned on Friday for allegedly murdering an acquaintance over a drug dispute, dismembering his body and storing the man’s body parts in his refrigerator and freezer for two years.
McGee, 45, was serving time in Virginia for an unrelated charge but was extradited back to Brooklyn for Friday’s arraignment. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder, robbery, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.
According to the investigation, McGee allegedly stabbed Kawsheen Gelzer, 39, in the back as he slept in the defendant’s Flatbush apartment located at 2069 Nostrand Ave.
Gelzer woke up and a struggle ensued, but the victim eventually died after being stabbed multiple times and hit with a hammer, prosecutors said.
Police said that Gelzer often stayed at the apartment, which McGee shared with his wife Heather Steins, and paid his portion of the rent with drugs. This violent attack is said to have been a result of Gelzer not paying up.
Following the alleged murder, prosecutors said that McGee stole drugs from Gelzer’s pocket and dismembered his body.
The charges claim that McGee used a small saw and hammer to dismember Gelzer’s body, placing most of it in plastic bags that were then put into a suitcase and stored in the refrigerator.
Prosecutors said that Gelzer’s head and torso were in the fridge, while his arms and legs were in the freezer.
The victim was reported missing by his family in March 2022.
Police received an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip early this year that Stines was keeping a body in her refrigerator, and on Jan. 22 officers responded.
Officials said that Stines did not want police to go into the kitchen, where they found a refrigerator taped and glued shut. Inside they found the body, which police said was identified from Gelzer’s tattoos.
Stines, 45, was arrested at the time. She was arraigned on Feb. 21 on an indictment charging her with hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
“This was a gruesome and horrific murder that we allege began with an attack on the victim as he slept,” Gonzalez said. “We will now seek to hold the defendant accountable for this senseless crime.”
McGee was held without bail and is expected back in court on Monday. He faces life in prison if convicted of the top count.