A crime spree that stretched from east to west coast and back, resulting in numerous robberies and the deaths of three people, came to an end last week when police cornered former Glen Head resident Christopher DiMeo in a New Jersey motel and persuaded him to surrender.

DiMeo's alleged accomplices? His girlfriend Nicole Pearce and, shockingly, his mother, 40-year-old Maryann Taylor-Casey of Lee Place in Hicksville. DiMeo and Pearce, both 23, surrendered to police on Friday, Feb. 4 at the Ascot Motel in Atlantic City while Taylor-Casey was arrested Feb. 6 at her Hicksville home. Pearce and Taylor-Casey are believed to have helped DiMeo case jewelry stores while Taylor-Casey is also believed to have driven the getaway car after a Glen Head robbery turned deadly back in December.

DiMeo, a known heroin user, had been wanted in connection with the robbery and murder of Glen Cove resident and jeweler Thomas Renison at J&J Jewels in Glen Head. In December, DiMeo entered the Glen Head Road family-run business under the pretense of buying a ring. DiMeo is accused of producing a gun while there and shooting Mr. Renison in the chest four times before fleeing the scene with more than $100,000 worth of jewelry.

In addition, police believe that DiMeo is responsible for a June 2004 attempted robbery in California as well as a Dec. 5, 2004 robbery at Robert's Jewelry in Westbury; a Jan. 26 robbery at the Rockland Jewelry Exchange; and the Feb. 2 robbery at Donnelly Jewelers in Fairfield, CT, which resulted in the deaths of its two owners.

DiMeo has roots both in Glen Cove and Glen Head. While he moved 13 times in 13 years, he attended school for a short time in both communities. Taylor-Casey is rumored to have only lived in Hicksville for a few weeks.

DiMeo and Pearce were arraigned bedside on Feb. 9 at Nassau University Medical Center after suffering from heroin withdrawal. DiMeo, a fugitive sought for a parole violation, was charged with murder and robbery while Pearce was charged with grand theft and violating parole. Taylor-Casey was arraigned on Monday, Feb. 7 and pled not guilty to second degree murder and first degree robbery charges in connection to the Glen Cove robbery and murder of Mr. Renison.