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Murder

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Wayne Chambers

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec.7 that Wayne Chambers, 51, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree after a jury trial for the fatal stabbing of his former girlfriend, Sandra McIntosh, in 2021.

“The domestic violence murder of Sandra McIntosh was a tragedy that should not have happened,” said District Attorney Tierney. “If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, I urge you to contact the Police Department or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to help us prevent tragedies like this one.” The evidence at trial established that on July 22, 2021, at approximately 7:43 p.m.

Chambers picked up McIntosh after her nurse’s shift at Stony Brook University Hospital was over. He had dropped her off earlier and had been driving McIntosh’s 2010 white Lexus RX350. Chambers had previously been in a relationship with McIntosh for approximately six years but had broken up months before the fatal stabbing. Chambers violently stabbed McIntosh, 46, of Medford, at least 25 times including in her neck and back, puncturing her heart and lung.

At about 8:03 p.m. a “911” caller reported seeing Chambers in the same vehicle driving erratically and then stopping the vehicle on Woodland Avenue in Holtsville. Witnesses saw Chambers outside the Lexus in a physical altercation with McIntosh. In addition, they heard McIntosh screaming and when they came out saw Chambers physically assaulting McIntosh and attempting to drag her out of the woods by her hair. Once Chambers saw the witnesses, he fled and jumped into McIntosh’s Lexus and sped away. McIntosh died within two hours of the fatal attack.

After the fatal incident, the Suffolk County Police Department was able to track Chambers to a location in the Bronx. It was there that McIntosh’s 2010 white Lexus RX350 was found as a result. Red staining that appeared to be blood was observed on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The evidence at trial established that that the red staining not only tested presumptively positive for blood, but many of those stains contained mixtures of DNA between the decedent and this defendant.

Surveillance video evidence was recovered across the street from McIntosh’s vehicle was found in the Bronx. This surveillance video captured the white SUV pulling up at approximately 10:39 p.m. on July 22, 2021. A man can be seen getting out of the driver’s side of the vehicle and walking away with what appeared to be a cellular phone in his hand.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department testified that they spoke with a female acquaintance of the defendant, whose residence was located approximately one block away from where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered. In sum and substance, she stated that Chambers went to her home in the Bronx on the evening of July 22, 2021. Upon arriving at her home, she observed that Chambers had a cut on one of his index fingers that was covered by a Band-Aid. She also observed a bloody spot on his green shirt. Additionally, cell site data placed Chamber’s cell phone near the murder scene, immediately after the murder.

Chamber’s cell phone also connected to a cell site within a mile of where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered in the Bronx, coinciding with the surveillance video that captured the SUV being parked in the Bronx.

On July 30, 2021, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad, Newburg City Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, and New York State Police located Chambers at a hotel in Newburgh and placed him under arrest.

On December 7, 2023, Chambers was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro of Murder in the Second Degree. Chambers is due back in court on January 9, 2023, for sentencing and faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau and Michelle Chiuchiolo of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives Guido Cirenza and Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 28 that James Brown, 43, of Mastic, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for allegedly shooting his longtime friend, Umar Elquhir, multiple times causing his death.

“Wanton violence such as this will not be tolerated in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I would like to thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their great work on this investigation.”

According to the investigation, on the evening of November 7, 2023, multiple 911 calls were placed reporting that a male was on the ground and possibly shot in the Poospatuck Reservation located in Mastic. Once Suffolk County police officers arrived at the scene, they saw the victim unresponsive and laying on the ground outside of a house where Brown resided. The victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Video surveillance from a store across the street from Brown’s home allegedly shows Brown and the victim in a brief physical altercation earlier in the evening. The victim left but returned approximately two hours later and parked outside of Brown’s home. Brown then allegedly exited his home, walked toward the victim’s car, and fired approximately nine shots at the victim through the rear passenger window. The victim opened the driver’s door and collapsed onto the ground. Brown was placed under arrest on November 20, 2023.

On November 28, 2023, Brown was arraigned on the indictment before the Honorable JUDGE
Collins, for the following charges:
 One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony;
 Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent
felonies;
 One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
 One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony.

Judge Collins ordered Brown be remanded during the pendency of the case. Brown is being represented by Steven Politi, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric Aboulafia and Sheetal Shetty of
the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk
County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Oscar Morocho-Morocho

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 20 that Oscar Morocho-Morocho, 32, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter after admitting to beating his girlfriend, 34-year-old Ruth Para-Martinez, to death.

“The brutal beating of Ms. Para-Martinez by this defendant was horrifying,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We take all such domestic violence seriously. We hope this disposition will give Ms. Para-Martinez’s friends and loved ones a small measure of justice.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s statements during his plea allocution, on the evening of May 7, 2023, Morocho-Morocho became angry with his girlfriend, Para-Martinez, and began to publicly and violently beat her in a commercial area of Shirley. Surveillance video from a local business allegedly captured Morocho-Morocho punching, kicking, and dragging Para- Martinez. The following morning at approximately 6:00 a.m., Para-Martinez was found deceased by members of the Suffolk County Police Department, in the same location where she was beaten.

On November 20, 2023, Morocho-Morocho pleaded guilty to the top charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins.

Morocho-Morocho is due back in court on December 21, 2023. Morocho-Morocho is being represented by Jason Bassett, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Francis X. Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau and Scott Romano of the Major Crime Bureau with lead investigative assistance from Detective Jim Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad.

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Michael Gilbert

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 2 that Michael Gilbert, 29, of Riverhead, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of fatally shooting Tyrell Durham 37, of Moriches, following an argument between the victim and Gilbert’s girlfriend in 2021.

“What started out as a verbal argument escalated to murder,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We hope that this lengthy prison sentence provides some measure of justice for Tyrell’s family and friends, all of whom still mourn his tragic loss.”

The evidence at trial established that on November 26, 2021, just after midnight, Gilbert overheard an argument between Durham and Gilbert’s girlfriend over the telephone. Gilbert got onto the telephone call and began arguing with Durham, culminating in Gilbert telling Durham to meet him outside. Coles resided in the same apartment building as Durham.

Durham and his girlfriend went outside of his apartment. Moments later, Gilbert and his girlfriend appeared around the corner of the building. Gilbert then fired a .22 caliber semiautomatic handgun at Durham six times, striking him three times in his body.

Durham was pronounced dead within one hour of his transport to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue. Gilbert fled the scene but surrendered to Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Detectives on December 1, 2021.

On September 26, 2023, Gilbert was convicted after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony. On November 2, 2023, Gilbert was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Jeffrey Bottari of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Ramon Lyons

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Oct. 18 that Ramon Lyons, 16, of Huntington Station pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree for fatally shooting 21-year-old Luis Cameron Rimmer-Hernandez in 2021.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney speaks at a press conference on Oct. 18.

“Unfortunately, the unintended effect of New York’s 2018 ‘Raise the Age’ law is an increase in shootings and violent crimes committed by young offenders, such as this defendant, who was only 14 years old when he took the victim’s life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Gangs are increasingly using younger members to carry weapons and commit shootings because they know that these offenders will face lesser consequences. The murder of Cam was a direct consequence of this misguided ‘Raise the Age’ law. My heart goes out to him and his family.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his plea allocution, on August 9, 2021, Luis Cameron Rimmer-Hernandez drove up to a location on Lowndes Avenue in Huntington Station to meet up with some friends. As Rimmer-Hernandez stood there, Lyons, then 14, ran up to him and fired approximately seven shots from a 9 mm handgun. Rimmer-Hernandez was struck multiple times in the chest and arm. Lyons was then observed fleeing the location and ultimately running back into his apartment, less than half a mile away. The defendant was tracked through surveillance video and made admissions to the homicide on social media.

 Lyons pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Karen Kerr. Lyons is expected to be sentenced to 12 years to life in prison. He is due back in court for sentencing on November 13, 2023. He is being represented by Matt Tuohy, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Frank Schroeder and Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau with investigative assistance from Detective Michael Ronca of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

 

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Felix Martinez, 46, of Port Jefferson Station, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, after Richard Shields, 56, died of injuries he sustained after Martinez allegedly brutally beat and choked him in front of their shared residence.

“Richard Shields suffered brutal and deadly injuries after this defendant allegedly attacked him,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will continue to work hard to ensure appropriate justice as a result. We will not allow individuals to carry out such acts of violence in Suffolk County without facing significant consequences.”

According to the investigation, on August 4, 2023, shortly after 12:00 p.m., Martinez confronted the victim, Richard Shields, in front of the house they shared on Jarvin Road, in Port Jefferson Station. Video surveillance footage recovered from a neighbor’s home showed that the confrontation began while Shields was seated on a chair in front of the home. Over the course of 15 minutes, Martinez allegedly repeatedly punched, choked, and stomped on Shields, and then struck him on the head with a mop bucket. Martinez culminated the attack by stripping Shields of his clothing and then urinating on him as he lay unconscious on the ground.

When members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Martinez in front of the house, smoking a cigar while Shields laid unconscious at his feet. Martinez was then placed under arrest.

Shields was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Five days later, on August 9, 2023, after succumbing to the injuries he sustained from Martinez’s attack, Shield was pronounced dead.

On August 29, 2023, Martinez was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony. Judge Collins ordered Martinez remanded without bail or bond during the pendency of the case.

Martinez’s next court date is September 22, 2023. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Jeremy Schileppi, Esq.

This case is prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Carlos J. Benitez II of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Michael Owen. Photo from NCPD

A St. James man has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife in January 2020, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced on July 31. Michael Owen, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder after he strangled Kelly Owen to death at her South Farmingdale home on Jan. 15, 2020, the DA said. She was 27.

“Kelly Owen was a bright young mother who had aspirations to be a nurse,” Donnelly said in a news release. “She was in the early stages of pregnancy with her estranged husband’s child and wanted to reconcile the marriage. Michael Owen, however, ended those dreams when he strangled his wife with a rope-like object on January 2020. Our condolences are with Kelly’s family as they mourn her senseless loss.”

Kelly Owen was at her apartment on First Avenue in South Farmingdale the day she died. The nursing student lived on the same property as her parents and shared custody of her then-6-year-old child with her husband, Michael, from whom she was separated, prosecutors said. Kelly’s father walked the child to school that morning, investigators said.

Kelly, at the time, was working as an aide at an aftercare program at a local elementary school between 3 and 6 p.m. When she did not show up for work, a co-worker called her parents, and Kelly’s parents discovered their daughter’s lifeless body, officials said.

“[Michael Owen] did not want this child,” Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad said at a news conference in January 2020. “He did not want to give her medical insurance. He had this new relationship that he was involved in, and he was in a bad position.”

Video surveillance showed Michael’s vehicle was in Kelly’s neighborhood at 9:30 a.m. the morning he killed her, prosecutors said. Michael, employed as a cell site technician, parked two blocks away from Kelly’s home and turned his phone off before arriving in South Farmingdale so that his cellphone location could not be tracked, authorities said. After strangling Kelly, Michael deleted text messages from both his phone and Kelly’s phone, the DA said.

Michael’s DNA was discovered around Kelly’s neck, officials said.

Michael Owens was arrested Jan. 28, 2020, and his trial started July 17, 2023. The jury deliberated for roughly two hours at the summations Thursday. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 19. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on July 3 that Philip Walker, 56, of Mastic, was arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree for allegedly stabbing and killing his housemate, Jimmy Vaughn, 63.

“This defendant allegedly killed Jimmy Vaughn in cold blood,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the prosecutors and the Suffolk County Homicide Squad for their swift investigation and apprehension of this defendant, who will now be brought to justice.”

According to the police investigation, on June 30 at approximately 5:00 p.m., a witness called 911 to report that Walker had allegedly stabbed Vaughn inside a room at the Shirley Motel on Montauk Highway in Mastic. Walker and Vaughn were both living in a group home at the Shirley Motel at the time of the incident.

When paramedics arrived, Vaughn was found outside of the room, bleeding from the left side of his chest and abdomen. Vaughn was taken to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

page1image29910576Video surveillance recovered from the scene allegedly showed Walker entering and leaving from the motel room where Vaughn was stabbed.

Walker allegedly fled from the motel after the incident, but was arrested on July 2 at a family member’s home in North Amityville.

On July 3, Walker was arraigned for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and remanded without bail during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on July 7.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police arrested a man on May 11 for killing his girlfriend in Shirley on May 7. Oscar Morocho-Morocho allegedly punched and kicked his girlfriend Ruth Marisel Parra-Martinez, repeatedly over a period of time, outside of 30 A The Green, Shirley on May 7 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Parra-Martinez, 34, Undomiciled, died from her injuries. Morocho-Morocho called 911 and reported Parra-Martinez had died.

Investigation by Homicide Squad detectives determined Morocho-Morocho allegedly killed Parra-Martinez. He  was arrested on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens at approximately 1:25 p.m. Morocho-Morocho, 31, Undomiciled, was charged with Manslaughter First Degree.

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Faustino Cruz-Marquez

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on May 4 announced that Faustino Cruz-Marquez, 26, of Manorville, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First  Degree during the third day of his jury trial.  

“A simple workplace dispute should not have led to the killing of Maria Carmelina Velasquez Zhau,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We are satisfied that justice has been served now that the  defendant has taken accountability for his crimes, and that he will no longer put the victim’s family  through any more pain throughout a trial.”  

According to the investigation and evidence presented during the trial, 37-year-old Maria Carmelina Velasquez-Zhau was last seen on the evening of July 28, 2020, on the Cosmos Farm in  Manorville, where she worked and resided. The victim lived in the property’s main house —  separate from Cruz-Marquez, who also lived on the farm.

On the evening of July 29, 2020, when  the farm owner realized the victim had not shown up to work — an unusual occurrence — he led  multiple search efforts to locate her and notified her family in Queens and New Jersey. The next  day, July 30, 2020, the victim’s family drove to the farm to search for her. During the search effort,  the lifeless body of Velasquez-Zhau was found in a wooded area on the outskirts of the farm. The  cause of death was determined to have been homicidal violence by unspecified means, consistent  with strangulation. 

Through the course of the investigation, it was revealed that another farm worker, Javier Santos Moreno, last saw the victim on the evening of July 28, 2020, in the worker’s kitchen, where she  was engaged in a physical altercation with Cruz-Marquez. The victim had accused Cruz-Marquez  of being responsible for some of the produce getting damaged, making it unavailable for sale.  Santos-Moreno informed detectives that the defendant called him that night and told him that he  choked Velasquez-Zhau to death and threatened him with violence if he told anyone what he saw.  Testimony about their phone call was corroborated by phone records.  

DNA evidence linking Cruz-Marquez to the victim’s murder was recovered from the victim’s  fingernails, and photos of the defendant’s injuries taken in the days after the crime were recovered  from his cell phone.  

On May 3, 2023, Cruz-Marquez pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable  Stephen L. Braslow, to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony.  

Cruz-Marquez is due back in court on June 5, 2023, and is expected to be sentenced to be  sentenced to 13 years in prison, with five years of post-release supervision.

 

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