RYE BROOK, N.Y. (April 29, 2026) — Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced Wednesday that a Rye Brook man has been indicted on second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges in the death of Samantha Maldacker, who was found unconscious at his Westview Avenue home on March 30, the victim of apparent strangulation.
Hugo Soto-Diaz, 30, pleaded not guilty to both charges before Westchester County Court Judge Anne Bianchi, who remanded him to the Westchester County Jail pending further proceedings. He is due back in court June 3.
Rye Brook police officers arrived at the Westview Avenue home shortly before 9 a.m. on March 30 and found Maldacker, 37, unconscious and not breathing. Officers began CPR. Maldacker died from her injuries at a local hospital on April 4.
According to Jonathon Bandler on lohud, a resident of the house had called 911 to report a struggle in the bedroom and hearing a woman yell “Get off me,” Major Case Bureau Deputy Chief Elizabeth Shumejda said at the arraignment. Emergency responders detected a pulse after inserting a breathing tube, lohud reported.
Lohud also reported that Detective Christian Delarosa noted red marks on both sides of Maldacker’s neck in his criminal complaint, which initially charged Soto-Diaz with attempted murder before she died. A grand jury then indicted him on the elevated charges.
Soto-Diaz had not been able to make $50,000 bail set in Rye Town Court. At Wednesday’s arraignment, Shumejda asked Judge Bianchi to remand him without bail, citing his extensive ties to Guatemala, where he is from, and a prior incident in which he fled police when they sought to arrest him — a case that did not lead to a criminal conviction, according to lohud. Defense lawyer Richard Ferrante argued for bail to remain the same, but Bianchi granted the prosecution’s request.
According to court documents cited by lohud, Soto-Diaz told police Maldacker had threatened him with a knife and tried to rob him. He also blamed his actions on substances, said he never meant to hurt Maldacker and asked how she was.
“I am thankful for the diligent police work of the Rye Brook Police Department on this senseless and tragic act of violence,” DA Cacace said. “Our office will honor the memory of Samantha Maldacker by holding Hugo Soto-Diaz fully accountable for his heinous actions.”
The case is being prosecuted by Shumejda and Assistant District Attorney Victoria Clarkson. The case was investigated by the Rye Brook Police Department.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.
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