Deer Park Woman Sentenced To 18 Years For Explosive Attack That Blew Off Boyfriend’s Hand: DA

Prosecutors say the woman threw an explosive into her boyfriend’s bedroom while he slept, causing injuries that led to the loss of his hand.

By Kepherd Daniel, Patch Staff

May 28, 2026 11:30 am EDT | Updated May 28, 2026 11:31 am EDT

Keyonna Waddell was sentenced to 18 years in prison after prosecutors said she threw an explosive device into her boyfriend’s bedroom, causing injuries that led to the loss of his hand. (Courtesy Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)

DEER PARK, N.Y. — A Deer Park woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison after prosecutors said she threw an explosive device into her boyfriend’s bedroom while he slept, causing injuries that led to the loss of his hand.

Keyonna Waddell, 35, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after previously being convicted of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, the DA said.

According to prosecutors, the attack happened on March 22, 2024, after Waddell and the victim argued inside his apartment.

The victim left the apartment and instructed Waddell to leave as well. When he later returned home, Waddell no longer appeared to be there, and he went to bed.

He later awoke to the hissing sound of what appeared to be a stick of dynamite, prosecutors said.

After attempts to extinguish the device failed, the victim picked it up and attempted to throw it out a window. Before he could do so, however, the device detonated in his hand.

The victim realized most of his hand was gone and ran to the end of the driveway, where he saw Waddell fleeing on foot, prosecutors said.

He was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, where doctors amputated the remainder of his hand and part of his arm.

Investigators later determined Waddell had threatened the victim with dynamite several times in the months leading up to the incident, prosecutors said.

She was arrested on March 23, 2024, following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department.

Waddell was convicted on April 24, after a jury trial before Richard Horowitz. She was represented by Eric Besso, who was not immediately available for a request for comment.

“This sentence is a measure of justice for a victim who survived an act of unspeakable domestic violence in his own home,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. “Suffolk County will always hold those accountable who act with such calculated violence.”