Two men indicted in hotel shooting death of East Northport man who was visiting son at Marist College
Police enter the Courtyard by Marriott in Poughkeepsie on Oct. 2 after an East Northport father visiting his son at nearby Marist College was shot to death at the hotel. Credit: Jeff Crianza
Two homeless men have been indicted in connection with the shooting death of an East Northport dad who was visiting his son at Poughkeepsie's Marist College for its Family Weekend.
The specific charges against the men, Roy Johnson and Devin Taylor, were not disclosed, but a grand jury handed up the indictment on Friday afternoon at the town court, according to a news release from the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office.
The father, Paul Kutz, 53, had been shot Sunday in what the police said was a random crime at a hotel.
What role each defendant played in the crime was not disclosed in the brief news release sent out Friday by the district attorney's office.
But previously, Johnson, 35, was charged with two felonies: second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to charging papers. He has been held without bail.
Taylor, 26, also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and held at the county jail on $500,000 in cash, $1 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond.
The two had been staying at the hotel.
Kutz was an accountant who founded a financial services company in Great Neck with his brother, Andrew, more than three decades ago, according to the company's website.
“The Kutz family is grateful for the outpouring of love, support and kindness during this tragic time. They kindly request privacy, space and peace to process this devastating and unimaginable loss to their family,” they said in a statement released by a close friend, Maria Zouros, earlier in the week.
The family could not be reached for comment Friday.
In searching the hotel where the shooting happened, the police said they found a room with “manuals related to the making of explosive devices, as well as materials with the potential to be used as explosives.”
“While explosive components were found, there were no explosive devices,” police said in a news release, determining there was no “active threat to the public.”
Lt. Jason Burger, a spokesman for the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, cited the news release but otherwise declined to comment,
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
