A New York hospital administrator accused of viciously beating and strangling his estranged wife went on the run for two months without bail before a Manhattan judge ordered him arrested on Thursday.
Yale-educated Tyler Phelan, an admitting clinician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, allegedly smashed his wife’s head against a stovetop, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head on the floor before attempting to strangle her in their Manhattan apartment.
Prosecutors sought bail at Phelan’s criminal arraignment in July, but lenient Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Michelle Weber ordered supervised release, shocking the alleged victim and her friends, according to one pal.
“She’s still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of the assault, and she feels unsafe in a city where he’s out and about, going to sports games, restaurants, and bars,” the friend, who asked not to be identified, said this week.
Phelan, 43, was later indicted on attempted assault and strangulation charges, and he pleaded not guilty at his Manhattan Supreme Court arraignment on Thursday.
During the hearing, Justice Michele Rodney agreed to set bail at $50,000, but the alleged sicko doctor is expected to post the money and regain his freedom.
Prosecutors attempted to lock him up on $200,000 bail, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the alleged July 21 assault.
“The facts of this case, your honor, can only be described as a vicious and brutal attack on his spouse,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Murphy told the judge.
According to court documents, Phelan was involved in a violent altercation with his wife. He allegedly slammed his wife’s head into the stovetop, knocked her to the ground, and then “grab her hair and slam her head against the floor before placing his hands around her neck and applying pressure,” according to the criminal complaint.
His wife eventually escaped to the bedroom, and Phelan allegedly went up to the apartment’s roof and had to be convinced to “come down” after a two-and-a-half hour negotiation with emergency services, according to prosecutors.
In an effort to keep Phelan on supervised release, his attorney, Nicole Guliano, told the judge about his impressive resume, which included a master’s degree from Yale School of Medicine and stints at top city hospitals Weill-Cornell and New York-Presbyterian.
Phelan, who has worked at Columbia’s medical center since July 2023, has no prior criminal record, according to Guliano, adding that there are no allegations of a crescendo of violence or physical violence. This is an allegation of one incident of violence.
Phelan, who was accompanied by family members to court, has begun therapy since his arrest, according to his lawyer.
“Stay away from that person named in the order of protection because it will only hurt you,” the judge warned him as he was led away in handcuffs for what was not expected to be a lengthy jail stay.
Meanwhile, Phelan’s wife, who is not being identified because she is an alleged victim, is now seeking a divorce and has been struggling to cope with the fallout of the attack, her friend said.
She is spending much of her time outside New York and only returning for medical appointments — alerting her friends throughout her visits so they “know she’s safe,” the pal added.
“She’s receiving ongoing medical care and intensive therapy,” the friend said. “Watching her struggle has been heartbreaking, but she’s surrounded by family and friends supporting her at her own pace.”
Phelan is due back in court November 20.
