Brentwood man kidnapped, strangled ex-girlfriend until she passed out, DA says

A Brentwood man faces grand jury charges of kidnapping and strangulation after he held his ex-girlfriend against her will and choked her unconscious in his backyard, prosecutors said Thursday.

Darli Mejia, 42, was arraigned Thursday morning on a 10-count indictment that includes second-degree kidnapping, second-degree strangulation, first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, fourth-degree grand larceny, three counts of third-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Mejia picked up the victim from work on June 20 under the pretense of driving her home.

When she realized he wasn’t heading toward her apartment and asked him to pull over so she could call a taxi, Mejia allegedly took her phone and kept driving toward his Brentwood residence, the DA said.

Mejia allegedly tried to force the victim to go inside his apartment. When she resisted, he bit her face and dragged her into the backyard, where he strangled her with one hand while covering her nose and mouth with the other, prosecutors said.

The victim lost consciousness and only came to after Mejia allegedly performed chest compressions in an apparent attempt to revive her, the indictment alleges.

The woman agreed to go inside Mejia’s apartment after he allegedly promised to call an ambulance, prosecutors said. She then locked herself in his bathroom and convinced him to return her phone, which she used to call 911.

Suffolk Police responded and arrested Mejia. The victim was treated for her injuries at South Shore University Hospital.

Mejia, a Honduran national, was ordered held on $750,000 cash, $1.5 million bond or $7.5 million partially secured bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count and is due back in court Aug. 10.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer to take custody of Mejia following the prosecution, Tierney reported.

Top: GLI file photo