A beloved NYPD Manhattan murder detective – who notably investigated the horrific beating of a 44-year-old mother on Randall’s Island within the spring – has retired after greater than 4 many years of service.
Detective Charles Freitag, of Lengthy Seaside, ceremonially walked out of the twenty third Precinct Friday – the identical stationhouse the place he’d labored as each an officer and detective for 30 out of his 42 years on the job.
“That is my dwelling,” mentioned Freitag, who was flanked by his spouse Liset and his two college-aged children, Charles and Jacqueline.
“I walked in right here in 1983. It went so fast however that was as a result of I don’t assume I had a depressing day.”
Most lately, Freitag helped crack the case surrounding the brutal, unprovoked beating of Diana Agudelo, 44, on Randall’s Island that left her with a extreme mind bleed and in want of two life-saving emergency surgical procedures.
Miguel Jiraud, 30 – who was out on parole for a rape conviction and carrying an ankle monitor – allegedly ambushed Agudelo and bludgeoned her as she pedaled her e-bike down an remoted bike path close to 600 E. a hundred and twenty fifth St. on Randall’s Island late Could 16, cops and sources mentioned on the time.
He then allegedly stole her bike, solely to throw it into the Harlem River a short while later, prosecutors mentioned.
The assault prompted a week-long NYPD investigation that finally zeroed in on Jiraud – the 911 caller who initially directed authorities to the bloodied, unresponsive Agudelo roughly six hours after the mindless assault, sources mentioned.
Jiraud was arrested and charged with tried homicide, theft and assault, based on the DA’s Workplace.
Now, Freitag says he nonetheless often visits Agudelo.
“I used to be glad I made an arrest,” the detective mentioned.
“I am going go to her each week within the hospital. What a brutal assault, so unhappy. How may somebody do that to her?”
He additionally investigated Arohn Kee, who was convicted of terrorizing teen ladies in East Harlem within the ‘90s – murdering three and raping 4 others.
Kee has since been sentenced to 400 years behind bars, federal prosecutors mentioned in 2003.
“There was nothing as satisfying as getting a confession and fixing a murder, telling the household that we made an arrest and giving them slightly closure,” Freitag mentioned.
He was additionally concerned in investigating a brutal homicide, rape and sodomy case in East Harlem from December of 1995.
One of many perpetrators, Tyrone Davis, was busted greater than two years later, based on a Day by day Information report.
Freitag described his work with the NYPD – and the Manhattan Murder Squad particularly – as “my calling.”
“Each day, I mentioned a prayer which ended with, ‘Let me go away this present day slightly higher for another person,’” the now-retired investigator mentioned.
Freitag mentioned that if he “was 20 years outdated tomorrow,” he would repeat his NYPD profession “once more in a heartbeat.”
“It was the perfect job on the earth,” he mentioned.
Now, Freitag is wanting ahead to driving his children to varsity in Florida – with out worrying about requesting break day – and desires of touring to Normandy.
