A Deer Park woman was convicted Friday after prosecutors said she threw an explosive device into her boyfriend’s bedroom while he slept, causing catastrophic injuries that led to the loss of his hand.
Keyonna Waddell, 35, was found guilty following a jury trial of Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The verdict was delivered April 24, 2026, in Suffolk County Supreme Court.
Prosecutors said the attack stemmed from a domestic dispute on March 22, 2024, inside the victim’s apartment. After an argument, the victim left and told Waddell to leave the residence. When he returned later, she appeared to be gone, and he went to sleep.
According to trial evidence, the victim was awakened by a hissing sound and saw a flame on his bedroom floor. He then realized an object resembling a stick of dynamite had been thrown into the room.
The victim attempted to extinguish the device but was unsuccessful. He then picked it up in an effort to throw it outside. Before he could reach safety, the device detonated in his hand.
He suffered severe injuries and immediately realized his hand had been blown off. The victim ran outside to the end of the driveway, where he saw Waddell fleeing the scene on foot, prosecutors said.
Police transported the victim to Nassau University Medical Center, where doctors amputated the remainder of his hand and part of his arm.
Investigators later determined that Waddell had threatened the victim with dynamite multiple times in the months leading up to the attack. She was arrested the following day, March 23, 2024.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the case highlights how domestic violence can escalate into extreme and life-altering violence.
Waddell was convicted of two Class B violent felonies. She faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced on May 27, 2026.
Photo: SCDA.
