DEER PARK, NY — A domestic dispute in Suffolk County turned into a scene of explosive horror, leading to the conviction of a Deer Park woman who used a stick of dynamite to settle an argument with her partner.
Keyonna Waddell, 35, now faces up to 25 years in state prison after a jury found her guilty of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The conviction, announced on April 24, 2026, follows a chilling investigation into an attack that permanently maimed her then-boyfriend.
A Hissing Sound in the Dark
The incident dates back to the night of March 22, 2024. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Waddell and her boyfriend had been engaged in a heated argument at his apartment. Attempting to de-escalate the situation, the victim left the premises and told Waddell she needed to move out.
When the man returned later that evening, the apartment appeared empty. Thinking Waddell had left, he went to sleep. However, his rest was cut short by a terrifying sound.
“He was awoken by a hissing sound and saw a flame on the floor of his bedroom,” prosecutors stated. Realizing an explosive device—resembling a stick of dynamite—had been tossed into the room, the man desperately tried to extinguish the fuse. When that failed, he attempted to pick up the device to throw it out of the room to save himself and the building.
A Life-Altering Explosion
The dynamite detonated while it was still in the victim’s hand. The force of the blast was catastrophic.
In a harrowing account provided to investigators, the victim described feeling immediate pain and looking down to discover his hand was completely gone. Despite the shock, he managed to run outside toward the driveway, where he caught a glimpse of Waddell fleeing the scene on foot.
At the hospital, surgeons were unable to save any portion of the limb. The victim was forced to undergo an emergency amputation of his remaining hand and a portion of his arm.
A History of Threats
Following Waddell’s arrest the next day, a darker pattern emerged. Prosecutors revealed that this was not a spontaneous act of rage. Evidence showed that Waddell had allegedly threatened her boyfriend with dynamite multiple times in the months leading up to the maiming.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized the gravity of the case following the verdict. “Domestic violence can escalate to deadly levels, and this case is a sobering reminder of that reality,” Tierney said. He credited the Suffolk County Police Department and his team of prosecutors for ensuring a “dangerous individual” was taken off the streets.
Sentencing and Next Steps
Waddell is currently in custody awaiting her sentencing hearing scheduled for May. With the first-degree assault conviction, she faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
The case has rocked the Deer Park community, serving as a grim example of how domestic volatility can result in permanent disability and attempted murder.
What do you think, Long Island? Does a 25-year sentence fit the crime for an attack this brutal? How can we better protect victims when threats of violence involve high-level explosives?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow for more local Suffolk County crime updates.
