The family of Weight Watchers executive Danielle Thomas, who was murdered by her boyfriend, plans to sue the NYPD for $10 million, according to the New York Post. The family claims that the police ignored her frantic 911 calls for help.
The notice of claim was filed on Monday against the NYPD and New York City. The family of Thomas described the 911 call she made one hour prior to her death when she begged for help.
After hearing the screams of Thomas, a neighbor called 911 three minutes later. The documents claim that instead of rushing to the Astoria, Queens home of boyfriend Jason Bohn, the police checked on a complaint of an “unsupervised juvenile” on June 24, 2012. Bohn is a graduate of Columbia.
“I was so heartbroken that there wasn’t enough manpower to cover both of the calls that night,” Thomas’ mother, Jamie Thomas Bright, told The Post.
“When I heard about [Danielle’s] call, I said, ‘What?’ I couldn’t believe it!” the mom said.
Thomas never actually talked to the dispatcher for 911. Instead, she is heard in the background of the call, saying, “Can I please just leave?”
She is told no by Bohn, who also says, “You’re acting’’ and, “You bitch!’’
Thomas pleads with Bohn, saying, “I will not call the police. Just what are you . . . Oh! Help! Help! Please!’’
“The call revealed [Thomas] was being imprisoned and tortured . . . and when the perpetrator found about the call, he tortured her some more as he hung up the phone,” the legal papers state.
“An investigation needs to be done so that this does not happen again,’’ family lawyer Alan Shapey said. “Danielle’s life could have been saved had the 911 system worked as intended.’’
In an eerie letter written to Thomas following her death by Bohn when he was in jail, he said, “My attorney recently informed me of the fact that you called 911 when you first got home and I lost my mind. Unfortunately, the police never even came to our door, despite us having issues in the past. They could have saved two lives that night. I hope your family brings a lawsuit against the city.”
“This claim, if served upon the NYPD, will be reviewed by the Legal Department,” said NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis in a statement.