By Rebecca Henely
A 33-year-old Astoria man was arraigned on charges of murder and criminal contempt Saturday after his girlfriend was found strangled and beaten to death in their apartment, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
Jason Bohn, an attorney and Colombia University graduate, allegedly made the 911 call that allowed police to discover his girlfriend, 27-year-old Danielle Thomas, June 26 around 7:30 p.m. in one of the apartments at 33rd Street and 28th Avenue, authorities said.
When they arrived, Thomas’ body was lying face up in a bathtub surrounded by bags of ice, District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement. She had multiple bruises and lacerations on her face, mouth and chest, as well as bruising on her neck and shoulders, Brown said. The city medical examiner later found she also had multiple internal injuries, like broken cartilage and compressions in her neck, fractures to her rib cage and lacerations to her liver, Brown said.
Her cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma to the torso and neck, Brown said.
Inside the apartment, officers found two handwritten notes. In one of them, Bohn allegedly said it was an accident and he had come home drunk.
“I woke up and there was fighting between us …. When I woke up again she was unconscious …. I am sorry,” the note read, according to the DA.
The second note said, “Dani, I will love you forever.”
Thomas worked for Weight Watchers.
The day after her body was discovered, police requested the public’s help in finding Bohn. He was apprehended late Friday in a White Plains, N.Y., restaurant with his mother and attorney by his side, the DA said. He was charged with murder, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal contempt and tampering with physical evidence, the DA said. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
“Ms. Thomas was a young woman with a bright and promising future whose life was brutally and senselessly cut short allegedly at the hands of the defendant,” Brown said. “This case will be vigorously prosecuted to ensure that justice is served for the victim, her family and other victims of domestic violence.”
Before the incident that led to Thomas’ death, Bohn allegedly attacked Thomas May 24 in their apartment, punching her so hard in her face and back that she was bruised on her back and her left knee was bruised and swollen, according to the criminal complaint.
When Thomas went to the police June 7, Bohn allegedly called her at the 114th Precinct’s station.
“It’s war! I’ll dedicate my life to hunting you down like a dog in the streets,” Bohn allegedly said in his message, according to the complaint. “I am going to make your life impossible.”
Before her visit to the station, Bohn had also allegedly sent Thomas multiple e-mail messages, the complaint said. In these messages Bohn allegedly said she was a “whore” and a “moron” and that she had to leave their apartment.
He was arraigned on these charges in Queens Criminal Court the next day, the complaint said. Afterward, he was released on his own recognizance and Thomas had a restraining order against Bohn, stating he was not to assault or harass her, Brown said.
Thomas had worked for Weight Watchers in the company’s financial department before her death.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Danielle Thomas,” Weight Watchers said in an e-mailed statement. “We are providing any and all support we can to her family and are cooperating fully with the police in their investigation.”
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
