No bail for woman charged in boyfriend's slay
Cynthia Dean, 32, is escorted out of the Fourth Precinct en route to arraignment in Central Islip Criminal Court on charges of fatally stabbing her boyfriend, Melvin Garcia, 48, in their Medford home. (Nov. 7, 2011) Credit: James Carbone
A woman charged with manslaughter in the weekend stabbing death of her boyfriend in their Medford home was ordered held without bail at her arraignment Monday in First District Court in Central Islip, prosecutors said.
Cynthia Dean, 33, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge that she stabbed Melvin Garcia, 48, the Suffolk County district attorney's office said. The two had been arguing about "personal matters" much of Saturday, Suffolk County police said, and at one point Garcia broke a window in the residence at 643 Granny Rd.
The argument "heated up," Det. Sgt. Thomas Groneman said, and Dean grabbed a steak knife and stabbed Garcia once in the chest at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. He was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Medical Center in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.
Groneman said Dean has a long criminal record. She and Garcia -- a self-employed painter -- met in January and recently moved in together, he said.
Dean is represented by Legal Aid Society, which customarily does not comment on behalf of their clients.
With Matthew Chayes and Will Van Sant
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
