Additional Coverage:
- Woman convicted of throwing dynamite at sleeping boyfriend faces up to 25 years in prison (themirror.com)
A New York woman faces up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of throwing a stick of dynamite at her sleeping boyfriend, in a shocking case of domestic violence.
Keyonna Waddell, 35, was found guilty following a jury trial on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced. The incident occurred on March 22, 2024, in Suffolk County, New York.
According to court documents, a dispute between Waddell and her partner inside his apartment led to the victim leaving and ordering Waddell to leave as well. When he returned later that night, he found no sign of her and went to bed.
He was abruptly awakened by a hissing noise and saw a flame on his bedroom floor. To his horror, he realized a stick of dynamite had been thrown into the room.
In a desperate attempt to prevent further harm, the victim tried to put out the fuse and then attempted to throw the explosive outside. Before reaching the door, the dynamite detonated in his hand, causing severe injury and the loss of part of his hand and arm. He managed to get outside, where he saw Waddell fleeing on foot.
The victim was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center, where surgeons amputated the remaining portions of his hand and part of his arm. Authorities arrested Waddell the following day after an investigation revealed she had threatened the victim with dynamite multiple times in the months before the attack.
“This case is a grim reminder of how domestic violence can escalate to deadly extremes,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thanks to the diligent work of our prosecutors and the Suffolk County Police Department, this dangerous individual has been held accountable.”
On April 24, 2026, after a trial overseen by Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, Waddell was convicted of two Class B violent felonies: assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree.
She is scheduled for sentencing on May 27, 2026, where she faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Waddell is represented by attorney Eric Besso.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dana Castaldo and Jacob DeLauter, with investigation led by Detective John Caraccia of the Suffolk County Police Department’s first squad, supported by DA’s office analysts Thomas Kolacki and Brooke Baade.