Man Strangled Ex-Girlfriend Until She Lost Consciousness In Brentwood: DA

BRENTWOOD, NY — A 42-year-old man was indicted Thursday after prosecutors said he held his ex-girlfriend captive in his vehicle, dragged her into a Brentwood backyard and strangled her until she lost consciousness.

Darli Mejia, whom prosecutors identified as a Honduran national, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with kidnapping, strangulation, sexual abuse and other offenses in connection with the June 20 attack, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Prosecutors said Mejia picked up the woman from work under the pretense that he would drive her home. When she realized he was not driving toward her apartment, she asked him to pull over so she could call a taxi, according to the investigation.

Instead, Mejia is accused of taking her cellphone and continuing to drive toward his Brentwood residence.

Once there, prosecutors said, Mejia tried to force the woman into his apartment. When she resisted, he bit her face, dragged her into the backyard, strangled her with one hand and covered her nose and mouth with the other, according to the district attorney’s office.

The woman lost consciousness during the attack and regained consciousness only after Mejia performed chest compressions in an apparent attempt to revive her, prosecutors said.

Still in pain and without her cellphone, the woman agreed to go into Mejia’s apartment after he promised to call an ambulance, according to prosecutors. Once inside, she locked herself in the bathroom and convinced Mejia to return her cellphone, prosecutors said.

The woman then called 911. Suffolk County police officers responded and arrested Mejia. The woman was taken to South Shore University Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries, prosecutors said.

Mejia was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis on one count of second-degree kidnapping, a Class B violent felony; one count of second-degree strangulation, a Class D violent felony; one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony; one count of first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a Class E felony; one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony; three counts of third-degree assault, Class A misdemeanors; two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, Class A misdemeanors; and one count of second-degree harassment, a violation.

Wilutis ordered Mejia held on $750,000 cash, $1.5 million bond or $7.5 million partially secured bond while the case is pending.

Mejia is due back in court Aug. 10. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer to take custody of Mejia, a Honduran national, following the prosecution, according to the district attorney’s office.

Mejia is represented by William Sammis, who was not immediately available for a request for comment.

“The victim in this case endured a horrifying attack that could have ended her life,” Tierney said. “Thanks to her bravery and quick thinking, the defendant is now in custody. This office is committed to aggressively prosecuting these serious charges and standing firmly with victims of domestic violence.”