Rhinebeck man accused of running girlfriend over; lawyer questions police narrative

Danielle Distefano was found dead inside her Rhinebeck home on Saturday afternoon.

That's not in dispute, but how she ended up there is.

State police say William Dicke, whose lawyer said was in a two-year relationship with Distefano, ran her over with his car late Friday night and left her for dead.

Dicke's lawyer, Ryanne Konan, is questioning that account, asking how she made it inside her house but did not call 911.

"That's what we need clarification on," Konan said Wednesday.

"My client is innocent until proven guilty," he said, adding that Dicke is "damaged" by Distefano's death.

"He can barely talk," Konan said. "He's just been damaged emotionally."

Dicke, 42, and Distefano, 35, were boyfriend and girlfriend, Konan said. They did not live together but both lived in the town of Rhinebeck.

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According to the felony complaint against Dicke, state police believe the couple "engaged in a domestic dispute which escalated to a physical altercation" at Distefano's home on Mill Road around 11:45 p.m. Friday. That confrontation ended with Dicke running her over with his car, police said.

Dicke is accused of leaving her "alone in a gravely injured state displaying an utter disregard for the value of human life," according to the complaint.

Distefano was found dead in her home after police received a call at 12:24 p.m. Saturday for a medical emergency there. Police said in a statement she was found dead in her home and "initial investigation found evidence of suspicious circumstances surrounding her death."

Dicke was arrested at 12:59 a.m. Monday and charged with second-degree murder. He was arraigned in Milan Town Court and is scheduled to appear in Rhinebeck Town Court on Thursday. He is being held without bail at the Dutchess County Jail.

Police and prosecutors have not commented on a possible motive. Konan said the couple had an argument in Dicke's car, though, as they returned to Distefano's home late Friday night.

"At one point she left and then she got out of the car and he left," Konan said.

Is it possible Dicke hit Distefano with his car and did not realize it? Konan would not rule that out as a possibility, but he said Dicke did not hit her "to his knowledge."

Dicke went back to Distefano's home on Saturday when he did not hear from her, Konan said, and Dicke called 911 after finding her dead inside. Police and prosecutors would not comment on who made the 911 call.

Konan questioned the accusations against Dicke, particularly the intent that is part of a murder charge.

"If you hit her with her car and she couldn’t move at all, she would be in the driveway," Konan said. "Let’s say she moved on her own. Meaning that she also had…plenty of time to call 911 or the police to say 'I'm hurt.'"

Distefano's arrangements are being handled by Burnett & White Funeral Homes, which have locations in Rhinebeck and Red Hook. Services will be held late next week but had not been posted as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the funeral home.

Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Rhinebeck's William Dicke innocent of murder charge, lawyer says