About This Episode
Danueal Drayton, a 27-year-old from New Haven, Connecticut, methodically used the Tinder dating application to meet and prey on women across multiple states. His criminal spree culminated in his arrest on July 24, 2018, when Los Angeles police found him holding a woman hostage in a North Hollywood apartment.
A Pattern of Violence
Drayton's history of violence predated his dating app attacks. Connecticut authorities had previously arrested him for unlawful imprisonment and strangulation—red flags that would later take on sinister significance as investigators pieced together a series of assaults and murders.
The confirmed victims paint a disturbing picture of calculated predation. On June 17, 2018, a 23-year-old Brooklyn woman met Drayton on Tinder. When she attempted to leave, he choked her and raped her. Approximately one month earlier, another unnamed woman in Queens suffered the same fate.
The Death of Samantha Stewart
The case gained national attention following the death of Samantha Stewart, a 29-year-old nurse living in Queens, New York. Stewart met Drayton through Tinder, a decision that would cost her her life. On July 17, 2018, her brother discovered her body in her bedroom, wrapped in blankets. She had been strangled; her teeth were knocked out—evidence of brutal violence.
After killing Stewart, Drayton showed no remorse. He immediately used her credit card to purchase a one-way plane ticket to California, attempting to flee across the country. Police have determined that Drayton was responsible for Stewart's death, though he has not formally admitted to her murder.
The California Arrest
Drayton's final known victim narrowly escaped with her life. A 28-year-old woman in North Hollywood agreed to go on a date with him, met through the same dating application. During the encounter, Drayton sexually assaulted and strangled her, then held her captive in her own apartment. On July 24, 2018, at approximately 5 p.m., LAPD officers arrested Drayton while he was still holding her against her will. He faced charges of attempted murder and sexual assault in Los Angeles; he pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys court.
Confessions to Multiple Murders
Following his arrest, Drayton made shocking confessions to law enforcement. He claimed responsibility for at least five additional murders—with some sources citing six total confessions. According to reports, these alleged killings occurred across Connecticut, the Bronx, Suffolk County, Queens/Nassau County, and possibly California. Investigators have been working to verify his claims, which remain unconfirmed as of the publication of available reports.
Warning Signs from an Ex-Partner
Zynea Barney, a 26-year-old mother and ex-girlfriend, had experienced Drayton's violence firsthand. She met him on a dating app and initially believed she had found "the dream guy" and "best friend." The relationship quickly turned violent. In August 2018, Barney spoke publicly to ABC News to warn other women about Drayton's manipulative behavior and capacity for brutality.
The Danueal Drayton case exposed a critical vulnerability in dating app security and user safety. Predators can create profiles with minimal verification, making it simple for violent offenders to access potential victims. For Samantha Stewart and the other women who crossed paths with Drayton, the promise of connection through a smartphone screen became a fatal or near-fatal encounter.
As of August 2018, many of the cases against Drayton remained pending in court, with investigators continuing to pursue verification of his additional confessions.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/dating-app-suspect-killer-danueal-drayton-new-york/
https://patch.com/california/northhollywood/suspected-dating-app-serial-killer-confesses-six-murders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYRMYpgGxg
