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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney

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

Ronald Schroeder Also Faces Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance Charges After He Allegedly Claimed a Backpack Full of Illegal Narcotics at the LIRR Lost & Found in NYC

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 18 that Ronald Schroeder, 41, of Huntington Station, was indicted for alleged Concealment of a Human Corpse after the body of Seikeya Jones, 33, of Huntington Station was discovered inside of a suitcase in Huntington Station.

“This case is immensely troubling. Ms. Jones and her family deserve a full investigation,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that the victim and her family receive justice.”

According to the investigation, on September 2, 2024, Suffolk County Police responded to a call for suspicious activity and a foul odor outside of an apartment building on Nassau Road in Huntington Station. Upon further investigation, police located the partially decomposed remains of Seikeya Jones inside of a suitcase on the side of the building.

Jones was found with her wrists and ankles bound with a cord. Her cause of death has not yet been determined and the results of an autopsy are pending.

Jones was last seen alive on August 29, 2024, inside the building with Schroeder who also rented an apartment there. After her body was found, police were unable to locate Schroeder for questioning until he resurfaced in Manhattan.

On September 6, 2024, Schroeder was located at Penn Station after he showed up to the LIRR Lost & Found Office to claim his backpack, which he had previously left on a Long Island Railroad train. Schroeder’s backpack was allegedly found to contain quantities of both methamphetamine and GHB or “liquid ecstasy.” Having been located, he was taken into custody and charged with both the narcotics charges and the concealment of Jones’ corpse.

On September 18, 2024, Schroeder was arraigned on an indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski for the following charges:

 Concealment of a Human Corpse, a Class E felony;
 Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
 Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony; and  Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class Amisdemeanor.

Justice Pilewski ordered Schroeder held on $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Schroeder is due back in court on October 16, 2024, and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Cappiello of the Major Crime Bureau and Frank Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Frankie Sierra of the Suffolk County Homicide Squad.

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Eduardo Vega
Tanya Denis

Eduardo Vega Faces Up to 25 Years to Life in Prison at Sentencing; Co-Defendant Tanya Denis Previously Pleaded Guilty to Hindering Prosecution

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 13 that Eduardo Vega, 58, of Islip Terrace, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, for fatally stabbing Roshane McLaren, his 34-year-old son-in-law, in the driveway of their Islip Terrace home. Vega’s wife and co-defendant, Tanya Denis, 48, of Islip Terrace, pleaded guilty to Hindering Prosecution in the Third Degree, for her role in the commission of the murder.

“This defendant killed Roshane McLaren, his own son-in-law, leaving his infant grandchild without a father,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad for their thorough investigation which led to this plea. Notwithstanding this result, our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Roshane McLaren.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on September 27, 2022, Vega and Denis lived together with Denis’ two daughters, their husbands, and children. During the early morning hours of that day, Vega engaged in a verbal altercation with one of Denis’ daughter’s husbands in the backyard. The altercation escalated when Vega threw a lawn chair at him and threatened to hit him with a baseball bat. When the daughters tried to intervene, Vega punched one of them in the face.

The victim eventually deescalated the situation, and Vega then left the home on foot. While Vega was gone, the victim learned that Vega had struck the victim’s wife during the altercation.

A short time later, Vega returned to the home with Denis. In the driveway, the victim confronted Vega for hitting his wife. Vega then stabbed the victim in the chest twice, piercing his left lung, heart, diaphragm, and stomach. Vega immediately fled the scene. Minutes later, Denis left the home in her vehicle and located Vega. She then provided Vega with money and drove him to the Brentwood train station at which point he fled to Brooklyn. He turned himself into the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Precinct on October 2, 2022.

The victim was transported to South Shore University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On September 13, 2024, Vega pleaded guilty Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Acting County Court Judge Richard T. Dunne. Vega is expected to be sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Vega is due back in court for sentencing on October 16, 2024, and he is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

Denis previously pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024, to Hindering Prosecution in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. She was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Veronica McMahon of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Palumbo 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 announced that Guenther Mayrhofer, 71, of Mastic Beach, a bus driver for the William Floyd School District, was indicted for Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child and Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, for allegedly downloading images and videos of child sexual abuse, and then uploading them to his cloud storage account.

“There is nothing more important to my office than protecting children and tracking down predators in our community. It is deeply disturbing that this defendant was allegedly in close proximity to children every day as a school bus driver,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the New York State Police for their diligent investigation in this case. We will continue to work closely with them and our other law enforcement partners to seek justice for these innocent victims.”

According to the investigation, the New York State Police received a tip that Mayrhofer had allegedly uploaded approximately 20 images of child sexual abuse to a cloud storage account. On August 15, 2024, state police executed a search warrant of Mayrhofer’s home and recovered numerous electronic devices and electronic storage devices.

A review of the devices revealed that Mayrhofer had allegedly downloaded and saved over one hundred images and videos of child sexual abuse.

On August 29, 2024, Mayrhofer was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis, for 25 counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class D felonies, and 25 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class E felonies.

Justice Wilutis ordered Mayrhofer held on $150,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Mayrhofer is due back in court on October 8, 2024, and he is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

If you or someone you know believe you have been victimized by Guenther Mayrhofer, please contact the New York State Police, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Zachary Kelly of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Investigator Fatih Ket of the New York State Police

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

Sean P. Kilkelly and Paul Poschmann Were Charged after a Three-Month Long Investigation

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Sean P. Kilkelly, 29, and Paul Poschmann, 44, both of East Northport, were indicted for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and other related charges, for allegedly selling cocaine out of their East Northport residence.

“The distribution of illegal drugs tears at the fabric of our community, destroys lives, and fosters crime,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This indictment represents our office’s steadfast determination to disrupt the flow of narcotics into our neighborhoods. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those accused of peddling poison on our streets.”

According to the investigation, on June 25, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section executed a search warrant at Kilkelly and Poschmann’s residence in East Northport. During that search, police allegedly recovered more than four ounces of cocaine from Poschmann’s bedroom and over an eighth of an ounce of cocaine from Kilkelly’s bedroom, along with cash and paraphernalia indicative of drug dealing. Poschmann and Kilkelly were arrested at the scene.

On July 10, 2024, Poschmann was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, for the following charges contained within the indictment:

  •   One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-II felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A-II felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
  •   Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies; and
  •   Two counts of Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class A misdemeanors.

Justice Horowitz ordered Poschmann be held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.

On July 18, 2024, Kilkelly was arraigned before Justice Horowitz for the following charges contained within the indictment:

  •   One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A-II felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
  •   Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony; and
  •   One count of Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

    Justice Horowitz ordered Kilkelly be held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.

    Poschmann is due back in court on August 7, 2024, and faces between up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Scott Zerner, Esq.

Kilkelly is due back in court on August 22, 2024, and faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Ira Weissman, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Kerr of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section.

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Brian Soltan
Gerald McCrystal

Auto Body Shop and Furniture Business Owners Each Pleaded Guilty to Stealing New York State Taxes After Failing to Report Taxable Sales

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on July 2 that Brian Soltan, 62, of West Islip, owner of several East Islip auto body businesses, and Gerald McCrystal, 51, of Dix Hills, owner of Farmingdale-based furniture stores, were each sentenced after pleading guilty to grand larceny on separate cases for stealing sales tax money from New York State.

“The deliberate theft of tax dollars is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of our tax system and places an unfair burden on law-abiding citizens and businesses. Both defendants collected sales tax from customers, fraudulently underreported taxable sales on dozens of returns, and then failed remit that money to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance,” said District Attorney Tierney. “These cases serve as clear reminders that tax fraud will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to cheat the system will be held accountable for their actions.”

According to Soltan’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between January 2011 to November 2015, Soltan failed to report approximately $2,817,951 in taxable sales from several businesses he owned in East Islip including Long Island Auto Body, Inc., Long Island Auto Collision, Inc., Long Island Towing & Auto Body, Inc., Long Island Towing & Collision, Inc., East Islip’s Auto Collision, Inc., East Islip Collision, Inc., and High End Collision, Inc., resulting in $244,799 in stolen sales taxes.

According to court documents and McCrystal’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between February 2008 to November 2015, McCrystal failed to report $8,979,157 in taxable sales from his Farmingdale-based businesses, including Levetz, Inc., Roma Fli Corporation, and Roma New York, Inc., resulting in $744,865 in stolen sales taxes.

Both defendants admitted to intentionally failing to remit funds collected on behalf of New York State.

On September 18, 2019, Soltan pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Braslow. As a condition of his plea, Soltan was required to pay $250,000 in restitution prior to his sentencing on June 26, 2024. He was represented by Robert Macedonio, Esq.

On June 26, 2024, McCrystal pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, before Justice Braslow and was sentenced immediately thereafter. As a condition of his plea, MyCrystal was required to pay $745,000 in restitution. He was represented by Matthew Rosenblum, Esq.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sacks of the Financial Crimes Bureau. The investigation on Soltan’s case was conducted by Senior Detective Investigator George Bean of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance assisted in both cases.

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Anthony Santiesteban

Anthony Santiesteban Faces Up to 25 Years to Life in Prison at Sentencing

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Anthony Santiesteban, 32, of Centereach, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges for fatally shooting Martina Thompson, 33, of East Patchogue in October 2022.

“This defendant deliberately and selfishly extinguished the life of Martina Thompson, a young mother,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the jury for their time and careful attention to this case, and I thank the investigators and prosecutors for their dedication to getting justice for Martina and her family.”

The evidence at trial established that in the early morning hours of October 29, 2022, surveillance video captured Santiesteban and the victim engaging in a conversation next to Santiesteban’s Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot in Coram. Santiesteban was then seen on video following the victim into a fenced area at the rear of the parking lot. Immediately afterwards, at approximately 1:03 a.m., a gunshot is heard on the video recording, and Santiesteban was captured walking out of the fenced area with a semi-automatic handgun in his hand. Santiesteban then entered his Jeep and left the scene.

At 1:25 a.m., the police found the victim with a gunshot wound to her face, lying in a pool of blood. She was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue where she was pronounced dead.

On November 2, 2022, police searched Santiesteban’s bedroom pursuant to a search warrant and recovered a loaded and defaced 9 mm handgun. Ballistics testing confirmed the bullet casing found next to the victim’s body came from the gun found in the bedroom.

On June 24, 2024, Santiesteban was convicted of the following charges after a jury trial heard before County Court Judge Anthony Senft:

  •   One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies; and

  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D violent

    felony.

    Santiesteban is due back in court for sentencing on August 1, 2024, and he faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq. and Peter Mayer, Esq.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Joseph Mallek of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Luis Cabrera and Thomas Henry of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

Dendrick Emery Allegedly Deposited More than $6,000 in Checks Stolen from the Mail Stream and Remotely Deposited Them into His Bank Account While Working as a Mail Handler

 Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of Dendrick Emery, 42, of Brooklyn, accused of grand larceny, and other charges, for allegedly stealing checks from the mail stream and then remotely depositing them into his bank account during his work shifts at a Suffolk County branch of the U.S. Postal Service.

“The reliability of the mail service is an important part of our quality of life, and I am dedicated to doing my part to protect it,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for its hard work and cooperation in this case.”

“The Special Agents of the USPS OIG will vigorously investigate Postal Service employees who comprise their integrity for personal gain. This does not represent the work of the many trustworthy U.S. Postal Service employees who continue to do their job every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Northeast Area Field Office. “The U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”

“Today’s arrest of a U.S. Postal Service employee is the result of law enforcement’s commitment to root out corruption and protect Long Islanders from criminal opportunists willing to jeopardize the public’s wellbeing for their own financial gain,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “HSI New York’s Long Island office is proud to stand alongside our partners in securing justice on behalf of our community.”

An investigation was launched by USPS OIG in September 2023. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and HSI joined the investigation shortly thereafter. According to the investigation, between February 3, 2023 and May 4, 2023, Emery, while employed by the Postal Service as a mail handler, allegedly stole four separate checks from the mail stream totaling $6,486.12 and remotely deposited them into his personal bank account.

On June 5, 2024, Emery was arrested by investigators assigned to the Public Corruption Squad of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, together with agents from USPS OIG and HSI New York.

On June 6, 2024, Emery was arraigned on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, and one count of Official Misconduct. Emery was released without bail because his charge is not a bail-eligible offense under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail.

Emery is due back in court on June 20, 2024, and he is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira of the Public Corruption Bureau, whose investigation was conducted, in part, by USPS OIG Special Agent David Campbell and HSI New York Special Agents.

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Eleanor Blakley-Whaley

Eleanor Blakley-Whaley Filed Fraudulent Court Orders Containing

Forged Signatures of a Suffolk County Judge

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 1 that Eleanor Blakley-Whaley, 61, of Sound Beach, pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree, for filing a forged judicial order purportedly issued by the Suffolk County District Court with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

“This defendant circumvented and frustrated the legal system in Suffolk County in order to benefit herself,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation and professionalism in this investigation.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during her guilty plea allocution, on June 29, 2022, Blakley-Whaley consented to the issuance of a Warrant of Eviction from her home located in the Town of Brookhaven by the Suffolk County District Court. The Warrant of Eviction was stayed by the court until October 31, 2022. Between November 1, 2022, and March 30, 2023, Blakley-Whaley filed six forged judicial orders stating that the eviction was stayed, and falsely purporting to have been issued by the Suffolk County District Court. Blakley-Whaley filed the forged orders with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in order to delay her eviction.

Prior to this case, on January 26, 2022, Blakley-Whaley pleaded guilty on an unrelated case, to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, and was sentenced to three years of probation. At the time of her arrest on the latest charges, Blakley-Whaley was serving her sentence of probation and thus, this arrest and criminal conduct violated the terms of her probation sentence.

On April 30, 2024, Blakley-Whaley pleaded guilty before Acting County Court Judge James McDonaugh to one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Blakley-Whaley is due back in court for sentencing on May 21, 2024, and faces up to one year in jail. She is being represented by Eric Sackstein, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Scheier of the Public Corruption Bureau.

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Wayne Chambers

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 25 that Wayne Chambers, 51, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, after a jury found him guilty of Murder in the Second Degree for the fatal stabbing of his former girlfriend, Sandra McIntosh, 46, of Medford.

“This defendant stabbed his ex-girlfriend in cold blood and without remorse,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My heart continues to go out to Sandra McIntosh’s loved ones. I hope this lengthy sentence provides them with some measure of justice after she was tragically taken from them by this defendant.”

The evidence at trial established that on July 22, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Chambers picked up McIntosh, a nurse, after her shift ended at Stony Brook University Hospital. Chambers drove the victim to work earlier that day in her 2010 white Lexus RX350. Chambers and McIntosh were in a relationship for approximately six years but had broken up months prior.

At about 8 p.m., a 911 caller reported seeing Chambers in the same Lexus driving erratically and then stopping on Woodland Avenue in Holtsville. Witnesses then saw Chambers outside the Lexus in a physical altercation with McIntosh. At some point during the altercation, Chambers stabbed McIntosh at least 25 times including in her neck and back, puncturing her heart and lung.

When the witnesses heard McIntosh screaming, they came outside and saw Chambers physically assaulting McIntosh, and attempting to drag her by her hair. Once Chambers saw the witnesses, he jumped into McIntosh’s Lexus and sped away. McIntosh died within two hours of the attack.

The Suffolk County Police Department tracked Chambers to a location in the Bronx where they found McIntosh’s 2010 white Lexus RX350. Blood and stains were found on the exterior and interior of the vehicle, some of which contained mixtures of DNA belonging to both Chambers and the victim. Surveillance video footage from across the street where the car was found captured the victim’s car parking at approximately 10:39 p.m. on July 22, 2021, and a man getting out of the driver’s side of the vehicle with a phone in his hand.

Cell site data placed Chambers’ cell phone near the scene of the stabbing immediately after it occurred, and also showed Chambers’ cell phone had connected to a cell site near where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered in the Bronx, coinciding with the surveillance video.

A female acquaintance of the defendant, whose residence was located approximately one block away from where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered in the Bronx, testified at trial that Chambers came to her home on the evening of July 22, 2021. She saw that Chambers’ shirt had a bloody spot, and that he had a cut on one of his index fingers that was covered by a Band-Aid.

On July 30, 2021, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad, Newburgh 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 of Murder in the Second Degree after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro.

On January 25, 2024, Chambers was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney 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 District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

page1image27764480On April 12 Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the arrest of Amanda Burke, a registered nurse, for allegedly lifting a two-day old newborn and violently slamming him face-down into his bassinet while under her care.

“The allegations against this defendant, who is someone entrusted with the care of our most vulnerable citizens, are truly disturbing,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to commend the members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit for their hard work in this case, and together we will continue to fight to protect the rights and safety of all Suffolk County residents.”

According to the investigation, on February 6, Burke, 29, of Holbrook, who, at the time of the incident, was employed by Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip and working in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), was assigned to care for the two-day old infant. Burke approached the newborn while he was lying in a bassinet, lifted him up, quickly flipped him over, and violently slammed him face down on the bassinet.

The infant’s father recorded a video of the incident on his cellular telephone through the nursery window. After viewing the recording, the infant’s mother confronted Burke.

When the parents notified other members of Good Samaritan Hospital’s nursing staff of Burke’s egregious act, Burke was directed to leave the hospital, and her employment was terminated within hours of the incident.

Burke is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

The defendant surrendered to the Suffolk County Police Department this morning and, as required by current New York State Law, was issued a desk appearance ticket to appear at First District Court on May 2.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has notified New York State’s Department of Education’s Office of Professional Discipline of the status and findings of the investigation; however, to date, Burke’s license to practice as a registered nurse has not been suspended.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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