Woman Indicted After Carjacking That Left 84-Year-Old Injured On LI: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Holbrook woman was indicted Friday after a carjacking incident that injured an 84-year-old woman, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Dareine Heller, 34, was indicted on charges including two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of second-degree assault after forcibly stealing a car in East Setauket and injuring its owner in the process, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on September 11, at about 10:45 a.m., the 84-year old woman exited her running 2013 Subaru Forester in an East Setauket Walmart parking lot to move a shopping cart that was blocking a parking spot, Tierney said.

During the time it took to move the shopping cart, Heller entered the vehicle, and the woman unsuccessfully tried to remove the keys from the ignition and her purse from the front passenger seat, Tierney said.

When Heller fled in the stolen vehicle, she knocked the victim to the ground, dragged her, hit a parked car, and knocked down a pole, the DA said.

The woman was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she received treatment for her injuries, which included a head laceration that required staples, cuts to her leg which required stitches, severe bruising, as well as significant road rash, the DA said.

When Heller was arrested a few hours later, she had the keys to the stolen vehicle in her pocket, Tierney said.

On Friday, Heller was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John Collins on charges including two counts of second-degree robbery, a Class C violent felony; one count of second-degree assault; a Class D violent felony; and one count of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, an infraction, Tierney said.

Justice Collins ordered Heller held without bail; Heller is due back in court on November 12 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

She is being represented by Christopher Gioe, who was not immediately available for comment.

"As alleged in the indictment, this was a brutal and senseless crime that left an elderly woman seriously injured and traumatized," said Tierney. "My office is committed to pursuing justice on her behalf and holding the defendant fully accountable under the law. Acts of violence against our most vulnerable citizens are a travesty and will not be tolerated in this county."