Accused Monsey attacker Grafton Thomas, 38, tried to “destroy evidence” of his guilt, Rockland District Attorney Michael Dugandzic said in Ramapo Town Court, citing a “strong smell of bleach in the car” he was driving, reports the NY Post.
Thomas, who lives with his mom in Greenwood Lake, Orange County, was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail after his lawyer entered not-guilty pleas to five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary in the attack.
Authorities, including the FBI, are now investigating whether Thomas is tied to a recent stabbing near a Monsey shul, a law-enforcement official briefed on the probe told The Post. In that case, a 30-year-old man – believed not to be the correct target of that attack – was beaten and repeatedly knifed while walking to the Tashnad shul at around 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 20.
Thomas’ vehicle was seen near that scene and he was later questioned by Ramapo police as a person of interest, but released without being charged, according to law-enforcement sources.
{Matzav.com}
