In a scathing statement, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney criticized New York's bail reforms after four individuals suspected of dismembering two bodies and disposing of the remains were released under the state's current laws. Tierney labeled New York Governor Kathy Hochul's crime platform as "laughably inadequate" and expressed his frustration with the inability to argue dangerousness in bail applications.

Under the bail reform laws passed in 2019, charges related to the dismemberment and disposal of dead bodies do not qualify for bail. Attorney Tierney, who is personally handling the prosecution of the suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, asserted that if dangerousness could have been argued, the release of the four defendants would not have occurred. However, in New York state, dangerousness cannot be used as a factor in bail applications, which Tierney argued is contrary to the federal system.

Tierney emphasized the importance of dangerousness as a critical factor in determining whether a suspect should be held on bail or remanded into custody. However, in this particular case, the charges filed did not meet the criteria under New York law, preventing the prosecution from raising the issue of dangerousness before the judge.

As a result, the four suspects, identified as Alexis Nieves, Amanda Wallace, Jeffrey Mackey, and Steven Brown, were released on supervised release on Wednesday. Tierney expressed his disappointment in Governor Hochul's criticism of the efforts of Suffolk County police detectives and her defense of a broken bail system.

Governor Hochul had recently discussed her anti-crime initiatives, which include deploying state troopers and the National Guard to assist the NYPD in New York City's subway system. Tierney countered that the decision to involve the National Guard further highlights the failure of the bail reform system in protecting residents and visitors of New York.

The governor also took a swipe at Tierney and Suffolk County police during an interview, suggesting that they should have conducted a more thorough investigation and brought more severe charges. Tierney responded by stating that prosecutors can only file charges based on available evidence and that the existing charges of evidence tampering, hindering prosecution, and concealing human remains were ethically supported by the evidence at hand.

Tierney expressed his frustration with the governor's remarks and called for her to refrain from commenting on ongoing investigations. He further urged state lawmakers to implement "common sense" fixes to the bail system.

The case, which began with the discovery of a severed arm in Babylon, led authorities to uncover other body parts from two different victims. Tierney's office, along with Suffolk County police, has been diligently working on the investigation.

As the controversy surrounding New York's bail reforms continues, Tierney's criticisms highlight the need for policy changes to address dangerousness and ensure the protection of the public. The debate surrounding bail reform will likely take center stage as district attorneys, lawmakers, and advocates seek to strike a balance between justice and public safety.