Sherman indicted by grand jury in RVC murder

Maxwell Sherman, the 18-year-old former Rockville Centre resident who was accused of murdering Lauren Daverin-Gresham on Aug. 22, was indicted by a grand jury in Nassau County Criminal Court on Friday.

Sherman, who currently lives on Louisiana Street in Long Beach, allegedly strangled Daverin-Gersham to death on a footbridge in Rockville Centre, leaving her nude and in a pool of blood, according to those who found her body.

Nassau County police charged Sherman with second-degree murder when they arrested him on Aug. 24. He was indicted at a hearing in front of a grand jury and Judge Francis Ricigliano on Aug. 30. However, Sherman’s indictment was sealed and will not be unsealed until his arraignment, according to a spokesperson for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. No date for an arraignment has been set.

Sherman is currently being held without bail.

“An indictment really doesn’t come as much of a surprise in light of the very low legal threshold required,” said Garden City William Petrillo, who is representing Sherman. “In fact, at a criminal trial, the judge tells the jury that the indictment is evidence of nothing. It’s merely an accusatory instrument.”

The indictment came on the heels of a request by Petrillo that his client be given a speedy trial. Because Sherman's indictment was sealed, it was not revealed what charges he was indicted under.

Daverin-Gresham, an 18-year-old Lynbrook resident, was found on the footbridge crossing Merrick Road in Rockville Centre at about 10 p.m. on the night of Aug. 22. A 14-year-old Rockville Centre resident found her and called police. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 10:15 p.m.