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Woman put up a fight before man killed her in her own bed |
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A house painter hired by a contractor was arraigned today on charges of first and second-degree murder for killing Mary Nagel, 42, in her Tamarac Avenue, New City home Friday morning. Douglas Herrera of Spring Valley is being held in the Rockland County Jail without bail. The case is expected to go to a grand jury next week. Herrera was captured by police Friday in a wooded area not far from the crime scene when a police helicopter spotted him hiding behind a tree. When arrested, he was wearing clothes belonging to the victim's husband, Daniel, Clarkstown Town Police said. The victim, a mother of two small children had defensive wounds, indicating she struggled with her killer. er partially clothed body was found face down on her bed in the master bedroom. Police are awaiting results of forensic analysis, but said it appears the woman had been sexually assaulted. One of the victim's three sisters, Ann Fallon, had spoken to Nagel by phone early Friday morning about having her substitute for her in a tennis match. They spoke again, but the victim told her sister she had to hang up because the painter wanted to talk to her. When she didn't arrive to play tennis, the sister went over to the house and spoke to Herrera who was outside. He told her Nagel had left the house. Herrera then left and Mrs. Fallon went upstairs to find a trail of blood. She called 911, police responded and found the body. Police Det. Lt. Charles Delo said no murder weapon has been determined pending autopsy results as to the cause of death. He did say the woman had suffered blunt force trauma and stab wounds. A knife believed to be used in the attack was recovered. Delo sad this is the 11th homicide in the last eight years in the community that hosts the Rockland County seat. The last homicide was that of a newborn infant whose body was placed on the front steps of a church last year. That unsolved case remains under active investigation, police said.
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