Man used dating websites to strangle nurse in Queens, rape woman in Brooklyn: police

SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, Queens, N.Y. -- (WPIX) -- The man who allegedly strangled a nurse in her Queens home is also accused of raping a woman and using dating websites to meet his victims, police said Thursday.

Detectives investigating the death of 29-year-old Samantha Stewart on July 17 connected her murder with the rape of a woman in Brooklyn several weeks earlier, NYPD officials said. They tracked Danueal Drayton, 27, to a California hotel, where he was allegedly holding a woman against her will.

Officers believe Drayton used multiple dating websites to find Stewart and his other victims.

"This individual uses dating websites to meet women and then victimize women," NYPD Chief Dermot Shea said. "There's potentially more victims out there."

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting nypdcrimestoppers.com, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).