Police in Queens made a gruesome discovery early Wednesday morning when they found a woman and her daughter beaten to death with a hammer, the New York Daily News reported.
Officials found the victims -- Estrella Castaneda, 56, and her daughter, Lina Castaneda, 25 -- in their East Elmhurt home around 12:15 a.m. with severe trauma to the head. While investigating the scene, police discovered a bloody hammer.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 44-year-old man, believed to be the mother's boyfriend, was taken into police custody for questioning. His name has not been released.
Police also said that Lina Castaneda's 4-year-old daughter was home at the time of the brutal attack.
"I saw police taking out the daughter," said neighbor Steve Perez. "She was wrapped up in a big coat. She looked scared. She was all hugged up with her arms and legs around the cop."
"As soon as I saw them take the kid I knew it was bad," Perez added. "They were a quiet family. I'd always see them walking down the street to do laundry or go to school. They looked like they didn't have a care in the world ... The mother and daughter were always together. They even looked alike."
The investigation is ongoing.
