Tag: Tampering with Physical Evidence
Convicted Killer Executed Neighbor, Dumped Body On Woodridge Rail Trail, Jury Finds
A Hudson Valley man already serving time for murder was found guilty of killing his neighbor and concealing the body.
Jonte Wunner, 27, of Monticello, was found guilty of second-degree murder and related charges in Sullivan County Court on Friday, Sept. 19, in the 2024 killing of Jose Rodriguez.
Jurors determined that on Oct. 4, 2024, Wunner intentionally beat and shot Rodriguez, 42, to death inside a home on Lakewood Avenue in Monticello. They found that he then wrapped Rodriguez’s body in a tarp and transported it to the Woodridge rail trail, where it was discovered by investigators.
Evi…
'Especially Grotesque': Man Raped Teen Before Dumping Body On Street In New Rochelle, DA Says
A Westchester man previously charged in connection with the dumping of a 15-year-old boy’s body has now been indicted on new charges involving the repeated sexual abuse of the teen, prosecutors announced.
Hugo Horacio Perez-Gabriel, age 32, of New Rochelle, was indicted on multiple new charges, including third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree sexual abuse, Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said Wednesday, July 9.
He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tue…
3 Indicted For 2021 Murder Of Taxi Driver In Newburgh Over 3 Years Later: DA
Three young men have been indicted in connection with the 2021 murder of taxi driver Jorge Arbayza de la Cruz in Orange County, whose shooting sparked a years-long multi-state investigation.
Nehemiah Clarke, 20, Jordan Burch, 19, and Damani Cruz, 20, have been arraigned in Orange County Supreme Court on charges related to the fatal September 30, 2021, shooting, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Wednesday, April 16.
According to court records and law enforcement officials, the three are accused of attempting to rob Arbayza de la Cruz, 51, a local taxi …
Narcotics Dealer Caught After Foot Chase In Mount Vernon: Nysp
A 40-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly selling drugs in Westchester and then leading police on a brief foot pursuit, authorities announced.
The arrest took place on Thursday, April 10, during a targeted enforcement detail in Mount Vernon conducted by New York State Police and Mount Vernon Police, State Police said on Friday, April 11.
According to authorities, officers saw a man engaging in narcotics transactions near Union Avenue. When officers approached, the suspect—identified as Horace Hammonds, of Mount Vernon—fled on foot, prompting a short chase, po…
Man Repeatedly Stabs Woman In Front Of 2 Kids Inside Albany Home, Police Say
A man is facing attempted murder charges following a stabbing attack that injured a woman in Albany.
Officers responded to a residence in the city’s Beverwyck neighborhood, near Sherman and Quail streets, for a stabbing at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2.
Inside the home, they found a woman, 31, suffering from stab wounds to her torso, legs, and hands, Albany Police said. She was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital in stable condition.
An investigation found that another resident of the home, Elijah Thomas, 34, stabbed the woman in front of two young children during a domestic dispute…
16-Year-Old Murdered 'Amazing' HS Athlete At Schenectady Party, DA Says
Months after a high school athlete was shot to death at a Capital Region home, a teenager has been charged with his murder.
The 16-year-old defendant, who prosecutors did not name due to his age, was arraigned on a seven-count indictment charging him with murder and related charges in Schenectady County Family Court on Monday, Jan. 27, in the killing of Dubar Knowles.
Knowles, 15 at the time, was attending a large party at a Schenectady residence, located on Congress Street near 8th Avenue, when the defendant shot him once through the chest at around 11:20 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2024, according t…
Trooper Shot Himself On Southern State Parkway Before Blaming 'Dark-Skinned Man,' Police Say
A former New York State Police trooper who claimed that a driver shot him, triggering a region-wide manhunt, made the whole thing up, prosecutors alleged.
Thomas Mascia, 27, of West Hempstead, surrendered to police Monday morning, Jan. 27, before being arraigned on a count of making a false report and related charges in Nassau County District Court.
Mascia initially told colleagues that he was walking toward what he assumed was a disabled vehicle when he heard several shots fired by a “dark-skinned man” on the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead shortly before midnight on Oct. 30, 2024…
14-Year-Old Shot Dead: Man Who Provided Gun In Mount Vernon Murder Gets Jail Time
A Yonkers man will spend decades in prison for his involvement in the killing of 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez in March 2023, officials announced.
Phillip Ferrell, age 48, was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 16 to 25 years in prison in connection with the fatal shooting of Fernandez in Mount Vernon on March 9, 2023, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.
According to the DA's Office, Ferrell provided his 9 mm pistol to his stepson, 23-year-old Tyrese Coghiel, and instructed him to "do what you gotta do." Shortly after, Coghiel used the weapon to fatally shoot Fe…
Sexual Servitude: Allentown Officers Raped, Assaulted Same Victim For Years, DA Says
An Allentown police officer and a former vice officer have been charged with rape and related offenses spanning several years, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Friday, Jan. 10.
Evan Weaver, 45, of Weisenberg, and Jason Michael Krasley, 47, of Upper Milford Township, are accused of sexually assaulting the same victim between 2011 and 2015, authorities said. The pair face felony charges of Rape and Involuntary Sexual Servitude, as well as Misdemeanor Indecent Assault, Official Oppression, Prostitution, and Related Offenses, according to the DA.
Weaver, a current A…
Poughkeepsie Man Armed With Fake Gun Shot By Police Faces Felony Charges: Cops
A masked man armed with what appeared to be a handgun was shot by City of Poughkeepsie police after pointing the weapon at them during a confrontation, police report.
The incident occurred, occurred around 10:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 22, when officers responded to a 911 call reporting a masked man with a gun outside an apartment at Fallkill Commons, located at 17 Rose St.
According to Det. Lt. Sean McCarthy, the caller, later identified as Kevin Fitzpatrick, age 41, of Poughkeepsie, matched the description of the armed individual.
Upon arrival, officers confronted Fitzpatrick, who point…
Kingston Hit-Run Driver Who Left Bicyclist Critical Arrested, Nysp Says
A 51-year-old Hudson Valley man was nabbed for an alleged hit-and-run crash that left the victim in critical condition.
New York State Police charged Keith P. McNamara, age 51, of Kingston, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the August crash with assault, tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury.
State Police said an investigation determined that on Thursday, August 29, McNamara was driving the pick-up truck that struck Mark Segall, age 68, of Kingston, while he was riding his bicycle south on Route 375 in the town of Woodstock.
McNama…
Hammonton PD Sergeant Tests Positive For Meth, Took Drugs From Evidence Room: Prosecutor
A police sergeant in Hammonton is facing multiple charges after testing positive for methamphetamine and taking drugs from the department's evidence room, authorities said.
Detective Sergeant Robert Zbikowski, 45, of Hammonton, was charged on Monday, Nov. 25, with second-degree official misconduct, second-degree pattern of official misconduct, third-degree theft by unlawful taking, and two fourth-degree charges: tampering with physical evidence and obstruction of law, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
In 2024, the Hammonton Police Department contacted the Atlantic County…
Two Men Charged With Attempted Murder In Allentown Shooting: DA
Two men have been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting a man in Allentown, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced on Thursday, Nov. 28.
Christopher Joel Colon, 32, and John Brace, 32, both of Allentown, are accused of shooting Jorge Alicea Jr. multiple times around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, on the 400 block of North Jordan Street, according to authorities.
Alicea Jr. was found with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed into surgery by Allentown EMS, police said.
Video evidence showed Alicea walking across a porch to a doub…
Reckless, Fleeing Driver Nabbed Through Use Of Tire Deflation Device In Albany, Police Say
A Capital Region man allegedly driving recklessly was nabbed with more than two kilos of cocaine after he failed to stop for police and sped away before being apprehended with the use of stop sticks.
The incident occurred in Albany at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, on I-87.
According to New York State Police Trooper Stephanie O'Neil, troopers attempted to stop Nashaan A. Howard, age 40, of Schenectady, in Albany County in Bethlehem.
When Howard failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. O'Neil said Howard was driving recklessly at a high rate of speed and discarding items from the vehicle durin…
Cold Case: Murder Of Albany's 'Baby Moses,' Solved After 27 Years
After some 27 years, detectives have solved the cold case murder of a baby boy in the region.
Albany County resident Keri Mazzuca, age 52, of Altamont, was charged in connection with the Sunday, Sept. 7, 1977 homicide, on Saturday, Sept. 14.
According to Albany Police Officer Megan Craft, around 7:15 a.m., Sept. 7, 1997, officers responded to the area of the Moses statue in Washington Park for reports of a dead baby.
A park worker found the child's body while digging a ditch next to a flower bed near the statue. When officers arrived, they located the dead infant who woul…
Man Accused Of Beating Victim To Death In Hudson Valley
A resident in the region faces 25 years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury for beating another man to death.
Ulster County resident Joseph Karolys, age 39, of Saugerties, was convicted on Friday, June 14, of manslaughter, assault, and tampering with physical evidence following a two-week jury trial for the death of David "Mickey" Myer, age 66, also of Saugerties, on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
According to Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji, Myer, and Michael Cummins were driven home by Karolys following a Halloween party at a Greene County Bar.
Myer’…
