New York Couple Accused of Torturing Housekeeper Over Missing Jewelry
A couple in Bayside, Queens is accused of kidnapping their housekeeper at knifepoint, allegedly burning her body with a plumber's torch while questioning her about missing cash and jewelry, WCBS reports.
32-year-old Devanand Lachman and 31-year-old Ambar Lachman were arrested earlier this month on charges of felony assault, felony kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. From NBC New York:
Sources said the couple, who live in Bayside, Queens, believed their maid, 54-year-old Daisy Machuea, stole money and jewelry from them. When she went to clean their home the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 13, Devanand Lachman and another man allegedly burned her with a plumber's torch and repeatedly hit her on the body with an object, according to police and the victim.
Machuea told NBC 4 New York through her friend and housemate, Oscar Ramirez, who translated from Spanish for her, "They kept punching, one guy this side, the other guy the other side."
Machuea denies stealing anything, but says she admitted to the theft at the time to stop the abuse. The three suspects then took Machuea to to her home, The New York Daily News reports, where they stole her and her roommate's cellphones.
Police are still searching for the third assailant, described as about 6 feet tall and 30 to 35 years old with a medium build.