RHINEBECK – The man accused of killing Danielle DiStefano appeared in Rhinebeck Court Thursday night in front of a capacity crowd. State and local police provided extra security for the preliminary hearing for the case against 42-year-old William Dicke.
Dicke was arraigned on a murder charge early Monday morning by Town of Milan Justice Richard Mattson. The judge remanded Dicke to the Dutchess County Jail.
The preliminary hearing is required to take place no more than five days after the arraignment and that is where the judge hears testimony presented by the prosecutor in order to determine if there is probable cause to believe whether an individual committed a felony. Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Kristine Whelan, Special Victims Division Bureau chief, presented the evidence to Judge Lisa Rubenstein.
The felony complaint filed by State Police Investigator Matthew Radewitz accuses Dicke of murdering 35-year-old DiStefano on Friday, January 21, at 11:45 p.m. at her residence. The complaint says in part that the two were “engaged in a domestic dispute which escalated to a physical altercation, that ended with the Defendant running over the victim with his motor vehicle.” It also says that after running her over, Dicke “left the victim alone in a gravely injured state displaying an utter disregard for the value of human life.”
The complaint also indicates that a witness gave a sworn statement to investigators.
Dutchess County corrections officers brought Dicke to court wearing shackles and a black and white jail-issued jumpsuit. In court, his attorney Ryanne Konan spoke for him. Sources have told Mid-Hudson News that Dicke was sent back to the jail to await further proceedings.
The courtroom, which normally has a capacity of 277 people, was severely limited due to COVID restrictions and many of the victim’s supporters were prevented from being in the court.
