The Central Islip woman accused of killing her mother inside their home Tuesday faced a judge today.

Police say Sharon Easter called 911 shortly after 8 a.m., telling the operator she killed her mother inside a Cocoanut Street home.

Responding officers found that 76-year-old Dorothy Easter appeared to have been strangled with a vacuum cleaner cord.

Neighbor Helena Humphrey says she's known the family for 20 years. She says that Sharon seemed to suffer from a mental illness, and that police were called to the house several times over the years.

There is no word from police about what led up to the death.

Easter, 57, is charged with second-degree murder and pleaded not guilty. Easter is being held without bail and is due back in court Friday.