Douglas Graves, 42, used sulfuric acid to attack girlfriend in Wyandanch in November, Suffolk DA says

A Wyandanch man has been charged with attacking his girlfriend with sulfuric acid in November, causing serious injuries.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Douglas Graves, 42, was involved in an argument with his girlfriend at a residence where he was staying in Wyandanch. When the woman attempted to leave the house Graves picked up a Clorox bottle containing acid — and "intentionally splashed the victim’s face and body" before fleeing, according to the Suffolk district attorney.

The attack took place on Nov. 16, authorities said.

In a statement released on Thursday, the District Attorney’s Office said the acid "immediately burned through the victim’s clothing, reaching the skin, which caused excruciating pain."
Authorities said the victim, who was not named, reported Graves "regularly carried" sulfuric acid in the bottle for "personal protection."

The District Attorney’s Office said the woman was transported to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where, despite treatment to neutralize the acid, her condition continued to worsen "for approximately a week."

Multiple reconstructive surgeries will be required to repair damage to the woman’s skin, authorities said.

The District Attorney’s Office said Graves made phone calls to two other women — one on Nov. 20, the other on Nov. 24 — in an attempt to seek their assistance "in preventing the victim from testifying."

The District Attorney’s Office said Graves even called the hospitalized victim from jail.

Graves was arraigned on an indictment on Thursday before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, charging him with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree witness tampering and two counts of second-degree attempted criminal contempt, as well as one count each of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal contempt. He was ordered held on $1 million partially secured bond, $500,000 bond or $150,000 cash bail.

His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a Thursday statement Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said: "This kind of cruelty is unimaginable. Survivors of domestic violence deserve unwavering protection, and we will not tolerate those who believe they can brutalize their partners without consequence. The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office stands with victims, and we will fight for them relentlessly."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.