By Rebecca Henely
Murder charges have been upgraded in the case of Jason Bohn, a 33-year-old Astoria resident who allegedly strangled and beat his girlfriend to death in their apartment last month, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
A Queens County grand jury indicted Bohn on first-degree murder Friday, the DA said. Bohn, who was taken into custody June 29, had previously been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal contempt and tampering with physical evidence — charges which he still faces, the DA said.
District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement that the first-degree murder count alleges Bohn acted in an “especially cruel and wanton manner” and that he allegedly tortured his victim, 27-year-old Danielle Thomas, before her death as per Penal Law 125.27, the DA said.
The jury also indicted Bohn on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment, the DA said. The charges could put Bohn behind bars for life without the possibility of parole, the DA said.
“The victim 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 both for the victim and her family.”
Thomas, a Weight Watchers employee, lived with Bohn in an apartment on 33rd Street and 28th Avenue in Astoria.
Bohn allegedly murdered Thomas, whose bruised and lacerated body was found surrounded by bags of ice in the apartment’s bathtub by authorities June 26, the DA said. The city medical examiner later determined that Thomas had died from blunt force trauma to her neck and torso, the DA said. Two notes allegedly written by Bohn were found in the apartment, one of which said the writer had been drinking and later fought with her, the other of which read, “Dani, I will love you forever. J,” the DA said.
Thomas had gone to the 114th Precinct earlier in the month to report that Bohn had allegedly assaulted her, injuring her face and leg, and sent her e-mails and text messages that contained threats, the DA said. Bohn had allegedly also called Thomas’ cellphone while she was at the precinct and threatened to “hunt her down like a dog in the streets” and “bash in her skull,” the DA said.
The NYPD’s Violent Felony Apprehension Unit arrested Bohn at a White Plains, N.Y., restaurant where he had been eating with his mother and his attorney, the DA said. He has been held without bail since, the DA said.
Bohn’s next court date is July 23, the DA said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
