Crime Watch

Baldwin man charged with woman's murder

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A Baldwin man has been arrested in the death of a woman whose body was discovered behind a Baldwin pizzeria on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, according to Nassau County police.

The Homicide Squad reported the arrest of Raphael Oyague, 36, of Baldwin, on Nov. 23. Oyague was charged with second-degree murder. He was arraigned on Thanksgiving in First District Court in Hempstead.

Authorities identified the woman as Deeana Wingender, 25, of Syosset.

According to police, Oyague got into a argument with the woman over payment for sex and then struck her repeatedly with a hammer, killing her. The two had met on Craig's List, and he had sent a car for her, which brought her to his apartment, officials said. Police noted that Oyague's apartment was within a hundred feet of where she was left, and investigators followed a trail of blood back to his apartment.

Police began their investigation of the suspicious death on Nov. 23 at 12:48 p.m., when the woman's body was found. According to Homicide Squad detectives, police were called to the rear of 97 Merrick Road, where they found the woman lying dead on the ground.

Police cordoned off the area behind a row of shops and eateries with yellow tape. Eight police cruisers were parked in the area, in addition to the crime scene investigation truck. A crowd of people, many of them reporters, had gathered behind the tape.

"It's terrible what happened," said one bystander, who did not wish to be identified. "The family is going to be devastated, and right before Thanksgiving."

A woman who is a sales representative at the nearby State Farm office, who did not wish to be identified, said that people were shocked to learn of the woman's death. "A delivery man came from Novi, the restaurant, and saw the body," she said. "At first they thought it was a mannequin, like a doll, or something, so they went into the pizzeria and sent out two cooks to check. That's when they discovered it was, in fact, a girl with a bloody face, so that's when they called the cops."

Oyague pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 24. He was remanded without bail, according to a representative at the court clerk's office.

Oyague is represented by the Legal Aid Society, which does not comment on cases.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

The Herald will update this story as information becomes available.