A West Babylon man accused of beating a Deer Park man to death and then stealing his car in 2024 has finally been arrested, Suffolk County police announced Monday.
Jason Buttchampagne, 25, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in the killing of Donald Klune, 65, during a violent robbery on Brook Avenue in Deer Park, police said.
According to investigators, Klune was sitting inside his 2009 Mitsubishi at about 8:35 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2024, when at least one person approached him, dragged him from the vehicle and brutally punched and kicked him before stealing the car.
Klune was rushed to a local hospital but died two days later from his injuries, police said.
Police said Buttchampagne was arrested May 11 and will be arraigned May 12 at First District Court in Central Islip.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
