Release # 171-2013 www.queensda.

org

DISTRICT ATTORNEY
QUEENS COUNTY
125-01 QUEENS BOULEVARD KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK 11415-1568 718-286-6000

RICHARD A. BROWN
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

CONTACT: PRESS OFFICE (718) 286-6315

NURSING HOME RESIDENT ARRAIGNED ON MURDER CHARGES IN BEATING DEATH OF ROOMMATE Faces Up To Life In Prison Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a resident of a Rockaway Park, nursing home has been arraigned on second-degree murder and other charges for allegedly beating to death his 71-year-old roommate. The District Attorney identified the defendant as Thomas Yarnavick, 66, of 140 Beach 113th Street, in Rockaway Park, Queens, which is the Beacon Rehab and Nursing Center. Yarnavick was arraigned this morning before Queens Criminal Court Judge Donna Golia on a criminal complaint charging him with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered to be held without bail and to return to court on December 4, 2013. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison. District Attorney Brown said that, according to the criminal charges, on October 30, 2013, between the hours of 1:15 a.m. and 1:25 a.m., inside of 140 Beach 113th Street, room 308, the defendant, Thomas Yarnavick, was observed by a person known to the District Attorneys office, next to the deceased victim, Jailall Singh, 71, who was lying face up in his bed. The defendant was allegedly observed holding the metal leg rest of a wheelchair in his hands and it had blood on it. The defendant then allegedly placed the leg rest in a hamper from which it was later recovered. The District Attorney further said that, according to the criminal charges, the defendant had blood on his clothing and on his body. The victim was also covered in blood. Finally, the defendant allegedly stated: I just killed him. The investigation was conducted by the New York Police Departments 100th Precinct Detective Squad. Assistant District Attorney Michelle L. Kaszuba of the District Attorneys Homicide Investigations Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter T. Reese, Bureau Chief, and Peter J. McCormack III and Richard B. Schaeffer, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders. It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. #
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