As an individual who has been actively involved with the Criminal Justice system in New York for over forty years both as an Inspector in the NYPD, and as the former Chief Investigator of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, I was outraged after reading the article written by Amelia Camurati concerning the release of a suspect who was arrested on June 30 of this year in Nassau County, on charges of strangling his ex-girlfriend. Then, after his release, he allegedly murdered a North Shore Hospital nurse.
According to the article, Nassau County Judge Erica Prager released Daniel Drayton of New Haven, Conn., without bail on July 5th, despite objections by the Nassau County DA.
It is alleged that Drayton murdered nurse Samantha Stewart, who was found dead in her Queens apartment on July 17, less than two weeks after his release by Judge Prager.
In addition, Drayton was arrested in North Hollywood, Calif., just last week for sexual crimes and the kidnapping of a 28 year- old woman who he held captive in a hotel room
According to Daniel Bagnuola, a court spokesman, Prager released Drayton after reviewing all information concerning the suspect available to her.
I find this difficult to believe because, at the time of his release, and according to the article, he had a violent prior history of five arrests in Connecticut and was on probation for second-degree harassment.
It appears that Judge Prager’s failure to take her important judicial duties seriously, allowed the suspect to be able to murder another female in Queens, and also kidnap and sexually abuse another female in California.
Her actions should be reviewed by a Judicial oversight board.
Stephen Nasta
Great Neck
Former NYPD Commander& Chief BXDA, Detective Investigators
