Island Resident Charged With Strangling Woman, Threatening Her With A Knife

An island resident was arraigned in Nantucket District Court on Tuesday on charges of assault and battery after allegedly strangling a woman and threatening her while holding a knife to her throat.

Daniel Henry, 48, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Jan. 13 charges of assault and battery on a family/household member, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and strangulation/suffocation.

Henry had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and his bail was set at $5,000 following a request by Cape & Islands assistant district attorney Brian Degan, which was granted by Nantucket District Court Judge Thomas S. Barrett. The bail was posted and Henry was ordered to return to court Feb. 13 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, Nantucket Police officer Jack W. Moran was dispatched to the Nobadeer Beach Access after the alleged victim told dispatch Henry was actively strangling her.

Moran observed the alleged victim "crying hysterically and shaking" when he arrived on scene with blood on her face and hands. The victim confirmed to Moran that she had just been strangled by Henry and it was to the point where she was not able to breath and believed she was losing consciousness.

The alleged victim also told police Henry pulled her by the hair from outside the vehicle and attempted to forcibly remove her from the car. Henry then allegedly placed a pocketknife against the center of her throat saying "I'm going to slit your throat."

The alleged victim added that she was able to fight Henry off by hitting him in the face with her hands.

In other Nantucket District Court news from this week, Jose Deras Chinchilla, 33, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Jan. 13 charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Feb. 13 for a pretrial hearing.

After being continued without a finding for one year, Raheem M. Samuels, 24, of Nantucket had an Oct. 7, 2021 charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol dismissed.

*All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty under a court of law*