Tappan Zee Hotel Hammer Attacker Faces 10 Years In Prison

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A Stony Point resident who pounded his girlfriend with sledgehammers in a hotel shower in West Nyack has pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder, District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced.

Todd Humphrey, 46, entered the plea before Judge Schwartz on Tuesday.

Calls about a screaming woman at the Tappan Zee Hotel on Route 303 came into Clarkstown police headquarters at 5 a.m. Oct. 17, 2022. Responding officers located a woman who had substantial lacerations to her head. They were told the victim was using the shower when Humphrey struck her in the head with a mini-sledgehammer and then used a regular-sized sledgehammer to strike her repeatedly

She was able to escape the room and was assisted by hotel staff who called 9-1-1, prosecutors said. Humphrey fled.

A regional alert was issued notifying officers about him and his vehicle. He was located in Putnam County and led New York State Police in a vehicle pursuit that ended in Orange County when he crashed his vehicle and was taken into custody.

"The defendant in this case engaged in a brutal act of extreme violence that showed no regard for the life of the victim," Walsh said. "He will now be held accountable for his criminal actions with a lengthy prison sentence. I would like to commend the swift response by the Clarkstown Police Department with the assistance from the New York State Police for apprehending the defendant."

Humphrey's expected sentence will be 10 years in state prison with 5 years post release supervision.

The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Nabeela McLeod.

SEE ALSO:

• Hammer Attack Leads To Car Chase Across Hudson Valley, Ends In Crash
• Rockland Man Indicted For Attempted Murder In Hotel Hammer Attack