Police Close Cases of Woodmere Drug Deaths

Police have closed its investigation of two deaths in two consecutive months at a Woodmere co-op, as well as another man who died after being transported to the hospital from the same location.

The cases for each man were closed after police ruled their deaths "accidental overdoses" based on the medical examiner’s report and toxicology results, according to the public information office of Nassau police.

Richie Draeger, 23, of Lynbrook, died on April 29 at the Cedar Glen co-op of Nicole Goldenberg off of Conklin Avenue, while Shane McCaffrey, 23, of Hewlett, died at the same address on March 30, police confirmed. Police also confirmed that Brian Urick, 35, of Woodmere, died in the hospital on Feb. 25 after being in Goldenberg’s co-op the day before. According to police, no charges related to these deaths will be filed against Goldenberg.

“I don’t believe that three deaths in three months in the same woman’s condo are coincidental,” said Sean Strise, of Lynbrook, Draeger’s uncle. “The problem is you have three guys that died with her and unfortunately all three, it happened alone with her.”

Goldenberg, also known as Nicole Puszar and Nicole Bregman, was arrested on April 29, the day Draeger died, and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Officers reported they found what appeared to be a crack pipe with residue in it in her co-op. She was also charged with possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and attempted grand larceny in the third degree.

The 38-year-old was on Tuesday for allegedly selling Oxycodone in May, police said.

She is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 26 for the possession charge after numerous past court dates were adjourned.

Goldenberg could not be reached for comment.

Janis Fusco, the aunt of McCaffrey, said she wants the community to be aware of the deaths to prevent future incidents.

“We want something to come out of this,” she said. “I don’t believe it for a minute that these were three accidental overdoses. She should be charged with something. I’m angry. It’s forgotten. I wish there was something I can do.”

Strise echoed her remarks.

“These kids are gone, what happened, happened. I don’t want a fourth kid to die there,” he said. “That’s been my main reason for going through all this and trying to get justice out of it.”

He added that the family might take Goldenberg to civil court for a wrongful death suit.

Janine Sangirardi, of Lynbrook, the mother of Draeger, said her son’s death could have been avoided had Goldenberg been watched after McCaffrey’s passing.

“She should get some kind of punishment for this. She should be held for negligence,” Sangirardi said. “She goes on living her life and I stare at my son’s ashes.”