Suffolk teen pleads guilty in 2024 crash of stolen SUV that killed woman, injured her son

The scene of the crash in Centereach on May 4, 2024. Credit: Neil Miller A Suffolk teen who killed a woman and severely injured her adult son when he crashed a stolen Range Rover into her vehicle in 2024 pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges Tuesday. Matthew Papile, now 18, of Port Jefferson Station, is expected to be sentenced by acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr to 6 to 18 years in state prison when he is returned to the Central Islip courthouse next month. "Today’s guilty plea underscores the outrageous and utterly unacceptable decision to get behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle while impaired and drive recklessly through the streets of Suffolk County," District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement. “The defendant’s choices on that day were selfish, lethal and they ruined lives. Papile was impaired by drugs and attempted to flee on foot following the crash, police said at the time. The top local stories you need to know to start your day.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open Newsday

Scoop News DeskCentereach · Published Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 9:47 PM UTCUpdated Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 11:51 PM UTC

Scoop News reporting summary

The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.

Defense attorney Sean Dixon, of Melville, said his client is "extremely remorseful." “This is a tragic case," Dixon said. "A tragedy on all fronts." Prosecutors previously said Papile had faced 13 to 39 years in prison if tried as an adult and convicted of the indicted charges, which include felony counts for second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, second-degree assault, criminal possession of stolen property and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.