A second man was arrested within the kidnapping of a teen woman on Lengthy Island who was held captive on a ship for weeks.
Prosecutors charged 47-year-old Bunice Knight of Copiague with rape and endangering the welfare of a kid, stemming from the disappearance of a 14-year-old from Patchogue who was discovered on Jan. 3, on a ship docked on the Whitecap Marina.
The brand new expenses got here every week after 64-year-old Francis Burkheit was arrested and charged with rape and kidnapping.
Each Knight and Burkheit have pleaded not responsible. Knight’s lawyer, Glenn Obedin, mentioned they “look forward to rigorously defending this case.” Burkheit’s lawyer, Danielle Papa, mentioned her consumer is “emotional, he’s upset he maintains his innocence.”
Based on court docket papers, the woman was delivered to a home on Jan. 2 for about an hour, a day earlier than she was discovered on a ship on the marina. Police mentioned they used safety video from the neighboring houses to assist arrest Knight.
The teenager sufferer first disappeared in early December, having been seen leaving her dwelling in an unknown automotive. Her father looked for her each day, following leads on his personal.
“There’s a lot more to this story than what’s been presented in the papers at this time, which we are in the process of investigating,” mentioned Papa.
It was not clear whether or not Buckheit and Knight know one another, however extra particulars are anticipated to be introduced as soon as the indictments are unsealed.
