GOSHEN – An Orange County grand jury has indicted the 22-year-old Middletown man who stabbed a 74-year-old man to death after a road rage incident on October 20.
District Attorney David Hoovler announced that Horace Duke was charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the murder of Joel Laddy of the Town of Wallkill.
Duke was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, $500,000 bond or $750,000 partially secured bond.
It is alleged that Duke was involved in a motor vehicle accident with Laddy, which escalated into a verbal argument near exit 119 of Route 17 in the Town of Wallkill.
During the course of the argument, Duke stabbed Laddy once in the chest with a kitchen knife, puncturing his heart and causing his death.
An investigation by Wallkill Town Police, State Police and the DA’s Office resulted in Duke’s arrest.
“Violence is never the solution to petty disputes or arguments,” said Hoovler. “The senseless loss of life in this case, which is as tragic as it is preventable, highlights the danger posed by road rage.”
The DA said that “Justice demands that those who engage in dangerous and deadly behavior face consequences for their actions.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant DA Richard Giordano.
