Smithtown Man Indicted In Family Member’s St. James Stabbing: DA

ST. JAMES, NY — A Smithtown man was indicted on attempted murder and burglary charges after prosecutors said he broke into a family member’s St. James home, stabbed the victim multiple times, and threatened the victim’s child, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Daniel Spector, 42, was arraigned Wednesday on an indictment charging him with attempted murder, burglary and other related charges in connection with the May 28 attack, prosecutors said.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said it is not naming the victim or further defining the familial relationship to protect the identity of the victim and the victim’s minor child.

According to the investigation, Spector went to the family member’s home in St. James on the morning of May 28 in violation of a court-issued order of protection, prosecutors said.

Spector then kicked open the front door, made threats and forced his way into the victim’s bedroom while the victim tried to barricade themself inside, prosecutors said.

After getting into the bedroom, Spector stabbed the victim multiple times in the chest, arms and legs with a makeshift weapon that prosecutors said he made from a broomstick with a sharp metal object attached, according to the district attorney’s office.

Throughout the attack, Spector threatened to kill the victim and also threatened to harm the victim’s minor child, who was hiding in a closet in a nearby room, prosecutors said.

Spector then grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the victim in the face, prosecutors said. He also strangled the victim, dragged them into another room and pressed his shin against their neck until the victim lost consciousness, according to prosecutors.

The victim’s mother intervened when Spector began dragging the victim toward the staircase in what prosecutors described as an apparent attempt to throw the victim down the stairs.

Spector fled the home, and the victim’s mother called 911, prosecutors said. The victim was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Spector was later apprehended by Suffolk County police a few blocks away from the victim’s home, prosecutors said.

Spector was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei on the charges including one count of second-degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony; two counts of first-degree burglary, Class B violent felonies; one count of first-degree attempted assault, a Class C violent felony; one count of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony; one count of second-degree strangulation, a Class D violent felony; one count of aggravated criminal contempt, a Class D felony; two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class D felonies; one count of first-degree criminal contempt, a Class E felony; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

Mazzei ordered Spector remanded while the case is pending, prosecutors said.

Spector is due back in court on July 14. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said.

He is represented by Jason Bassett, who was not immediately available to comment.

“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.”