Daniel Spector, 42, of Smithtown, has been indicted on attempted murder, burglary, and other charges after allegedly breaking into a family member's home and launching a brutal assault, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
The attack happened on the morning of Thursday, May 28, in St. James, according to the investigation. Prosecutors say Spector went to the residence despite a court-issued order of protection barring him from contact with the victim.
Spector allegedly kicked in the front door, forced his way into the victim's bedroom, and stabbed the victim multiple times in the chest, arms, and legs using a makeshift weapon fashioned from a broomstick and a sharp metal object, prosecutors said.
Authorities say he repeatedly threatened to kill the victim and threatened to harm the victim's minor child, who was hiding in a nearby closet during the attack.
The assault continued when Spector allegedly grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the victim in the face before strangling the victim and dragging them into another room, according to prosecutors. He then allegedly pressed his shin against the victim's neck until they lost consciousness.
The victim's mother intervened when Spector allegedly began dragging the victim toward a staircase in an apparent attempt to throw them down the stairs, authorities said. Spector then fled the home. The victim was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment.
Members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrested Spector a few blocks away from the residence, according to the DA's Office.
"The viciousness that this defendant allegedly showed toward a family member, especially with a minor hiding nearby, is appalling," Tierney said. "Domestic violence will never be tolerated. We will vigorously prosecute this case and hold the defendant accountable for his alleged crimes."
Spector was arraigned on the indictment before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei on Wednesday, June 10, according to prosecutors. He is charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree, Aggravated Criminal Contempt, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Justice Mazzei ordered Spector held without release while the case is pending. He is due back in court on Tuesday, July 14. Prosecutors said he faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said it is not identifying the victim or specifying the family relationship involved in order to protect the victim and the victim's minor child.
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