A New York woman is facing up to 25 years in prison after a Suffolk County jury found her guilty of throwing a live explosive into her boyfriend’s bedroom while he slept.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the conviction of 35-year-old Keyonna Waddell on Friday, following a trial that detailed a domestic dispute that turned into a life-altering explosion.
The incident dates back to March 22, 2024. According to evidence presented in court, Waddell and the victim had been arguing inside his apartment earlier that day. The victim eventually left and told Waddell to go.
When he returned later that night, he believed he was alone and went to sleep. He was jolted awake by a strange hissing sound and the sight of a flickering flame on his bedroom floor. Realizing a device resembling a stick of dynamite had been tossed into the room, he first tried to put the fire out. When that failed, he grabbed the explosive to hurl it out of the house.
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The device detonated before he could reach the door. The victim told investigators he felt “searing pain” before realizing his hand had been blown off. As he ran toward the driveway for help, he spotted Waddell fleeing the scene on foot.
Police rushed the man to Nassau University Medical Center, where surgeons had to amputate the remains of his hand and a portion of his arm.
Investigators later discovered that Waddell hadn’t just acted on a whim; she had allegedly threatened the victim with dynamite several times in the months before the attack. She was arrested the day after the explosion.
On April 24, 2026, the jury delivered a guilty verdict before Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz. Waddell was convicted of Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, both of which are Class B violent felonies.
“Domestic violence can escalate to deadly levels, and this case is a sobering reminder of that reality,” District Attorney Tierney said following the verdict. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our prosecutors and the Suffolk County Police Department, a dangerous individual has been held accountable and will face a lengthy prison sentence for this horrific act.”
The case was a collaborative effort involving Assistant District Attorneys Dana Castaldo and Jacob DeLauter, alongside Detective John Caraccia and analysts from the DA’s office. Waddell, who is represented by attorney Eric Besso, is scheduled for sentencing on May 27, 2026. She remains in custody facing a maximum of a quarter-century behind bars.
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