District Attorney Hoovler Announces Indictment in 2021 Murder of Newburgh Taxi Driver
Nehemiah Clarke and Jordan Burch Charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Related Charges
Damani Cruz Charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Related Charges
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Nehemiah Clarke, age 20, of Newburgh, Jordan Burch, age 19, of Newburgh, and Damani Cruz, age 20, of Newburgh, werearraigned in Orange County Supreme Court on an indictment charging Murder in the Second Degree (Clarke and Burch), Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Clarke and Burch), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Clarke and Cruz), Tampering With Physical Evidence (Burch) and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (Clarke, Burch and Cruz) and related crimes for the September, 2021 murder of a taxi driver in the City of Newburgh. Clarke and Burch were remanded in lieu of bail. Cruz is serving a sentence on an unrelated matter.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on September 30, 2021, at approximately 8:40 p.m., City of Newburgh Police were alerted to a shooting on North Miller Street. Responding officers located a male victim with a gunshot wound and immediately began life saving measures. The male, who was discovered to have been operating a taxi service at the time of the shooting, died as a result of his injuries. The homicide resulted in a years-long investigation by detectives with the City of Newburgh Police Department encompassingmultiple states.
On April 10, 2025, Nehemiah Clarke, a 20-year-old Town of Newburgh resident was processed at the City of Newburgh Police Department. Clarke was located in South Carolina, having enlisted in the United States Military. Clarke was apprehended with the assistance of the United States Military Criminal Investigation Division and the US Marshals Service.
On April 15, 2025, Jordan K. Burch, a 19-year-old City of Newburgh resident was processed at the City of Newburgh Police Department. Burch was located in Hartford, Connecticut by City of Newburgh Detectives and the US Marshals Service.
On April 4, 2025, City of Newburgh Detectives arrested Damani Cruz, a 20-year-old City of Newburgh resident.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrests of the defendants. District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the New York State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, US Marshals Service, and Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center who assisted, together with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, in the lengthy investigation.
“The horrific and senseless violence allegedly perpetrated in this case is breathtaking,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Law enforcement has never relented in their pursuit of this investigation, and the indictment unsealed in this matter is the culmination of a great deal of work by the police and prosecutors assigned to the case. We will continue to provide all necessary resources to the investigation of violent crime in Orange County and will seek to hold to account those responsible.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.