An ex-con admitted Wednesday to killing a man who was found dead in a Hicksville hotel room two years ago following a night of drinking.
Vincent J. Dalton, 52, of Ridge, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder at Nassau County court in the death of Erik O’Connell of East Meadow, prosecutors said.
“This defendant tied up and brutally murdered his 39-year-old victim…stole his credit cards, and tried to use one at McDonald’s,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.
The two had met less than 24 hours prior to the slaying in room 118 at the Econo Lodge on Duffy Avenue in Nov. 19, 2016, police have said. The victim died of blunt force trauma to the head, according to investigators. The weapon was never recovered.
Nassau police Det. Capt. John Azzata previously said that a housekeeper had found the victim’s hog-tied body and informed the motel manager, who called 911. Surveillance video captured the two entering The Headliner Bar together a half mile from the motel, prosecutors said. Another video captured them entering the motel room together and Dalton later leaving alone.
Dalton was previously arrested 14 times—including eight times for violent felonies—and was paroled in 2015 following a burglary conviction. He was apprehended in West Islip days after the murder.
He is due back in court March 20, when Judge Teresa Corrigan is expected to sentence him to 23 years to life in prison.
