LI body parts case: Victims involved in knifepoint robbery before murders, prosecutors say
LONG ISLAND - Prosecutors at Monday's court appearance for Jeffrey Mackey and Alexis Nieves – both charged with second-degree murder in the Long Island human body parts case – said it's believed the victims were involved in the planning of a knifepoint robbery at a Valero gas station, and the same knife was allegedly used to kill them one week later.
Inside the courtroom, the government said once Donna Conneely was "gasping for air", Nieves, who is Mackey’s girlfriend, stepped in by kicking and then beating Conneely with a meat tenderizer. Mackey is accused of repeatedly stabbing both victims and allegedly strangling Conneely as she tried to intercede.
Brown is a cousin of one of the victims, according to their family. Prosecutors say the robbery was very much intertwined in the case.
"There was a lot of illegal conduct occurring between the victims and the defendants, which in part was the impetuous for the murders presumably," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
While the motive is still unclear, Tierney said the evidence, including testimony, forensics and video, takes time to piece together.
"Six individuals went into a house, four come out, and now it's up to law enforcement to figure out what happened in that house." Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney
"You only have one opportunity to get it right," he said. "Six individuals went into a house, four come out, and now it's up to law enforcement to figure out what happened in that house."
Mackey and Nieves maintain their innocence. Their attorneys argue officials have charged the wrong couple.
"I do find it interesting four were initially arrested and only two were charged with murder," said Christopher Gioe, who is representing Nieves.
"Obviously, they're getting their information from witnesses, and we believe those people should be looked into more so than our clients," said Mackey’s attorney, John Halverson.
Nieves is being held on $10 million bond, while Mackey is being held without bail. The two could face life in prison if convicted on the top count. They’re due back in court on June 3.
Mackey and Nieves maintain their innocence. Their attorneys argue officials have charged the wrong couple.
"I do find it interesting four were initially arrested and only two were charged with murder," said Christopher Gioe, who is representing Nieves.
"Obviously, they're getting their information from witnesses, and we believe those people should be looked into more so than our clients," said Mackey’s attorney, John Halverson.
Nieves is being held on $10 million bond, while Mackey is being held without bail. The two could face life in prison if convicted on the top count. They’re due back in court on June 3.
More suspects to face additional charges
Meanwhile, two more suspects – Steven Brown and Amanda Wallace – are expected to face additional charges, including robbery and conspiracy at a Tuesday court appearance in Riverhead. The pair is already charged with evidence tampering, hindering prosecution and concealing a human corpse.
Timeline of investigation
Back on Feb. 29, a group of Long Island high school students found a left arm on the side of a Babylon road on their way to school, police said. The arm was discovered just before 9 a.m. on Siegel Boulevard.
According to police, as officers investigated the crime scene, a canine unit located a leg sticking out of a pile of leaves in a wooded area, not far from the original scene.
During the evening hours, Suffolk County detectives said they found what appeared to be a woman's head, leg and arm in the same park where the male human remains were discovered.
A week later, police arrested the group of four in connection to the investigation. They were arraigned and released without bail, officials said. According to officials, those charged were forced to surrender their passports and wear monitoring devices. They are unable to leave the country.
Suffolk County officials said a search warrant was executed on Railroad Ave in Amityville, the same address listed for Brown, Mackey and Wallace. Investigators found meat cleavers, butcher knives and blood in the apartment.
