State prosecutors plan to drop charges against two men accused of kidnapping a Brooklyn doctor after the victim refused to cooperate, the New York Post reported Monday. About.
Connecticut prosecutors plan to drop charges against Anthony Benjamin, 42, and Steve Daley, 50, the two men accused of kidnapping Michael Bautista in Brooklyn. The case began last summer when Bautista, an ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, was reportedly kidnapped outside the Brooklyn Mirage nightclub. according to to the New York Post. Benjamin and Daley were accused of forcing Bautista to go on a spending spree throughout New York City.
Bautista was reportedly made to pay for the prisoners’ expensive weekends, including clothes, haircuts and access to strip clubs. According to the newspaper, Benjamin is suspected of having Bautista withdraw money from an ATM and then giving it to Bautista’s friends.
Brooklyn Mirage kidnapper accused released after Connecticut prosecutors drop charges https://t.co/oZHNwGIhBC pic.twitter.com/OKR4br3i6n
— New York Post (@nypost) March 25, 2024
The case faced a major hurdle when Mr. Bautista chose not to cooperate with prosecutors, making it difficult to proceed without Mr. Bautista’s testimony. Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Valdez said during a February hearing that the case cannot move forward without Bautista. As a result, the charges against Daley were dropped on February 26, and charges against Benjamin will likely be dropped on April 15, the New York Post reported. (Related: Video shows mother chases kidnapping suspect, grabs teenage daughter and flees)
Benjamin and Daley were arrested at the hospital where Bautista works on July 23, just days after the alleged kidnapping, the New York Post reported. Initially, a high bail was imposed, but the requirement to promise to appear in court was reduced due to doubts about the evidence. Although the dismissal of the case may alleviate Mr. Daley’s legal problems, Mr. Benjamin is still being held at Rikers Island on separate theft charges.
