A woman has been convicted of severely injuring her boyfriend by detonating a homemade stick of dynamite while he was asleep. Keyonna Waddell, aged 35, faced legal consequences following a heated argument that culminated in the explosive incident. Waddell had previously threatened to use dynamite against her partner, but he did not anticipate the actual attack.
In March 2024, Waddell threw the dynamite into the room where her boyfriend was sleeping. Upon awakening to a strange hissing noise, he attempted to extinguish the flame but was unsuccessful. As he tried to remove the explosive from the room, it detonated, causing significant damage to his hand. In pain, he sought help outside while Waddell fled the scene.
Emergency responders transported the injured boyfriend to Nassau University Medical Center in New York, where medical professionals amputated what remained of his hand. Waddell was apprehended by law enforcement the following day and subsequently found guilty of assault and multiple weapon possession charges by the Suffolk County District Attorney.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized the severity of domestic violence, stating that this case serves as a stark reminder of its potential dangers. Waddell is scheduled for sentencing in a New York court on May 27 and could face a lengthy prison term of up to 25 years.
Prosecution of the case involves Assistant District Attorney Dana Castaldo and Assistant District Attorney Jacob DeLauter, with investigative efforts led by Detective John Caraccia of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Squad, supported by Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Research Analysts Thomas Kolacki and Brooke Baade.
