DARNELL LEE PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER OF 85-YEAR-OLD KEW GARDENS HILLS WOMAN ON HER WAY TO SYNAGOGUE; TO BE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that Darnell Lee, 27, of Flushing, has pleaded guilty to the murder of 85-year-old Celia Hoffberg during a robbery that occurred on March 24th in Kew Gardens Hills as she was on her way to synagogue.

District Attorney Brown said, "Individuals who target elderly or vulnerable people to attack and rob are the worst type of violent predators. The defendant drove around various neighborhoods in Queens looking for targets to attack. Such was the case with Mrs. Hoffberg. He spotted her on the street walking to the Young Israel of Queens Valley Synagogue, parked his car behind her and then pounced on her from behind, knocking her to the pavement and stealing her purse. Mrs. Hoffberg died several hours later as a result of head injuries she sustained in the attack. The defendant will now face the consequences of his brazen and cowardly act." He will be sentenced before Supreme Court Justice Robert Hanophy on October 25, 1998. He face 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murder in the second degree and three counts of robbery in the second degree. These charges include the murder and robbery of Mrs. Hoffberg and the robbery of three other women.

According to the District Attorney Mrs. Hoffberg was murdered at about 9:40 A.M. on March 24, 1998 in front of 150-11 77th Road. As she made her way westbound on 77th Road the defendant got out of his car, came up behind her, punched her in the back, knocked her down, stole her bag containing $68 and other personal items and escaped in the car. People on the street saw the victim on the sidewalk and summoned the police. Later that day, the defendant robbed a 36-year-old pregnant woman on Highland Avenue. He also robbed a 62-year-old woman on March 23rd at 142nd Street and a 53-year-old woman on March 22nd as she walked along 134th Street.

The defendant was arrested on March 27th after police linked the car, a light blue Ford Taurus, used in the robberies to the defendant.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant District Attorney Joshua S. Mandell of District Attorney Brown's Homicide Investigations Bureau, which is under the supervision of Bureau Chief Peter T. Reese, and by Assistant District Attorney Carmencita Gutierrez, of the Homicide Trials Bureau which is under the overall supervision of Daniel A. Saunders. The investigation and prosecution was under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Gregory L. Lasak.