Tag:

Arson

Hudson Valley Man Indicted On Murder, Concealment Of Corpse Charges, DA Says Hudson Valley Man Indicted On Murder, Concealment Of Corpse Charges, DA Says
Hudson Valley Man Indicted On Murder, Concealment Of Corpse Charges, DA Says A Hudson Valley man has been indicted with the murder of another man whom he shot to death and then drove the victim to another location and set the car on fire. Related story: Years-Long Investigation Leads To Murder Charge For Stony Point Man Rockland County resident Robert Rodriguez, age 36, of Stony Point, was arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 27 following an indictment by a grand jury. According to Scott Waters of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, on the evening of Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, Rodriguez shot the victim, Ronald Mann on the property at Rodriguez’s home located at 41…
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Burning Down Home Of Ex-Girlfriend, 2 Kids Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Burning Down Home Of Ex-Girlfriend, 2 Kids
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Burning Down Home Of Ex-Girlfriend, 2 Kids A man has been sentenced to prison for arson after burning down the home of his ex-girlfriend and two young daughters in the region. Ulster County resident Timothy Benzenhoefer, age 44, of the hamlet of Malden-on-Hudson, was sentenced on Friday, May 19 to 5 to 15 years in state prison for arson which he committed as part of his ongoing domestic abuse, said the Ulster County District Attorney Office.  The fire took place on Wednesday, June 25, 2022, a few days after calling off his engagement to the victim, Benzenhoefer completely burned to the ground the home where the v…
Hudson Valley Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say Hudson Valley Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say
Hudson Valley Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say A Hudson Valley man has been charged with arson after allegedly having his car burned and then filing a fraudulent claim. Ulster County resident William Duryea, age 27, of Saugerties, was arrested on Monday, March 27 by state police, said Trooper Steven Nevel. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, Duryea went to work at 10 p.m. at the Ulster Service Area on I-87. Around 11:20 p.m. he received a call from Kingston Police telling him that his vehicle was found on fire in Hasbrouck Park, Nevel said. Nevel said Duryea told police that he left his keys in the car when he went to work, and someone must h…
Orange County Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others Orange County Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others
Orange County Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others A former Hudson Valley restaurateur has been sentenced to prison for intentionally burning down his restaurant and endangering the lives of his wife and first responders. Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, of Newburgh, was sentenced Wednesday, March 1. Gjurashaj, who was convicted by a jury in September 2022, was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for burning down Andiamo’s Restaurant, which was located at 5025 Route 9W, in the Town of Newburgh in 2017, the Orange County DA's Office said. Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant and the wife of his nephew…
Hudson Valley Man Charged With Killing Stepfather, Lighting Relative's Home On Fire: DA Hudson Valley Man Charged With Killing Stepfather, Lighting Relative's Home On Fire: DA
Hudson Valley Man Charged With Killing Stepfather, Lighting Relative's Home On Fire: DA A man from Northern Westchester is charged with fatally stabbing his stepfather before lighting a relative's home on fire.  On Wednesday, Sept. 14, around 12:30 a.m., 30-year-old Shane Gilleo of Peekskill is accused of stabbing 48-year-old Edward Reeves numerous times with a knife at a residence in Peekskill on North James Street, according to a release by Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah on Thursday, Nov. 10. Reeves was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he later died, Rocah said.  Later that day, around 11:20 a.m., Gilleo is charge…
Man Accused Of Setting Fiancé's House On Fire In Area Man Accused Of Setting Fiancé's House On Fire In Area
Man Accused Of Setting Fiancé's House On Fire In Area A man from the region has been charged with allegedly intentionally setting his fiancé's home on fire. The fire took place in Ulster County around 1:45 a.m., on Saturday, June 22 in Saugerties. When Saugerties police officers and firefighters from the Saxton Fire District arrived on the scene they found a single-family home engulfed by fire, said Chief Joseph Sinagra of the Saugerties Police. Following an investigation, evidence was presented to an Ulster County grand jury who indicted Timothy Benzenhoefer, age 44, of Saugerties with causing the fire, the chief said. Benzehoefer was arred…
Man Charged With Setting Hudson Valley Home On Fire In Domestic Violence Incident: Police Man Charged With Setting Hudson Valley Home On Fire In Domestic Violence Incident: Police
Man Charged With Setting Hudson Valley Home On Fire In Domestic Violence Incident: Police Police in Westchester County have charged a man with setting a home on fire as part of a domestic violence incident.  On Friday, Oct. 21, at around 3:30 p.m., police responded to a home in Yonkers located at 50 Gunther Ave. that had been set on fire as part of an "escalation of on-going domestic violence issues with a former acquaintance," police said.  Police charged 28-year-old Kostiantyn Limanskyi, address unknown, with third-degree arson in relation to the incident.  There were no injuries, and there was minor damage to the exterior of the residence, police said. 
Police Pursue 'Persons Of Interest' After Fire Set At School In Area Police Pursue 'Persons Of Interest' After Fire Set At School In Area
Police Pursue 'Persons Of Interest' After Fire Set At School In Area Police in the Hudson Valley are asking the public for. help to identify three men who were seen leaving the area of a school moments before a fire was set. The incident took place in Putnam County on Monday, Oct. 10, at the Garden Street School in the village of Brewster. According to the Brewster Police, at this time the three men are just "persons of interest," not suspects. In addition, there were two other teenage boys that were seen by witnesses leaving the school as smoke was coming out of the second-floor windows, police said. The two were seen coming out of the east side of the bu…
Orange County Restaurant Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Eatery Orange County Restaurant Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Eatery
Orange County Restaurant Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Eatery A Hudson Valley restaurant owner faces years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of setting fire to his restaurant. Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, was found guilty on Monday, Sept. 26 by a jury on all counts including arson, reckless endangerment, and insurance fraud, among others, for setting fire to Andiamo’s Restaurant in the town of Newburgh, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant, Marina Gjurashaj, age 38, of Yonkers, who is the wife of his nephew, pled guilty for her role in setting the fire. As part of her plea agree…
Murder Suspect Who Set Fire To Avoid Capture In Hudson Valley ID'd, Charged, Police Say Murder Suspect Who Set Fire To Avoid Capture In Hudson Valley ID'd, Charged, Police Say
Murder Suspect Who Set Fire To Avoid Capture In Hudson Valley ID'd, Charged, Police Say Police have identified a Northern Westchester man who has been apprehended after allegedly setting fire to a home in order to avoid being captured following the stabbing death of another man. Peekskill resident Shane Gilleo, age 30, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 14, and charged with murder and arson, said Det. Lt. Jack Galusha, of the Peekskill Police. The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m., Wednesday when police responded to a call of a person stabbed in front of 7 N. James St., in Peekskill. Upon arrival, officers discovered 48-year-old Edward Reeves had suffered multiple stab wounds…
Hudson Valley Murder Suspect Sets Fire To Building To Avoid Capture, Police Say Hudson Valley Murder Suspect Sets Fire To Building To Avoid Capture, Police Say
Hudson Valley Murder Suspect Sets Fire To Building To Avoid Capture, Police Say A Northern Westchester man who allegedly stabbed another man to death set fire to a building to avoid capture, police said. The incident began in Peekskill around 12:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14 on North James Street. According to Peekskill Police Chief Leo Dylewski, officers responded to the home for a report of an individual suffering from a stab wound. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, 48-year-old Edward Reeves, of Peekskill, the chief said. Reeves had suffered multiple stab wounds and was immediately given medical aid by officers before being transported to Westches…
Woman Accused Of Setting House On Fire In Area Woman Accused Of Setting House On Fire In Area
Woman Accused Of Setting House On Fire In Area A Hudson Valley woman has been arrested for allegedly setting a house on fire that displaced a family. The Rockland County incident took place on Wednesday at a home in the village of Airmont. The fire was quickly extinguished by Tallman Fire Department with mutual aid from firefighters from: Hillcrest Monsey Sloatsburg Spring Valley Mahwah  No one was injured during the fire, which is believed to have been started intentionally, said Det. Sgt. Michael Higgins of the Rampo Police. Following an investigation by Ramapo detectives and the Rockland County Sheriff's Arson Investigation U…
23-Year-Old Accused Of Starting Fire That Damaged Hudson Valley Home 23-Year-Old Accused Of Starting Fire That Damaged Hudson Valley Home
23-Year-Old Accused Of Starting Fire That Damaged Hudson Valley Home A 911 call about a fire burning at a Hudson Valley home ended with a 23-year-old man behind bars for arson. In Ulster County, emergency crews in Saugerties were called at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, with reports of a fire burning in the backyard of a home near the Glasco Turnpike and Town Road. When police and firefighters arrived, they found an uncontrolled fire burning approximately 20 to 30 feet away from the side of a house, Saugerties Police said. Flames grew so intense that the home’s siding had begun to melt. The suspect, Nicholas Mitchell, told investigators that he had s…
Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Hudson Valley Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Hudson Valley
Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Hudson Valley An alert has been issued by police investigators in Westchester as they seek the public's assistance in identifying and locating a suspect who is wanted for arson. The Port Chester Police Department released a photo of the suspect, who was caught on camera before intentionally lighting a pair of the village’s plastic garbage bins on fire. Police said the alleged incident happened shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 8 on East Broadway in Port Chester. According to investigators, the suspect was seen crossing the street on lower Westchester Avenue before walking west and making a left ont…
Man Sentenced For Starting Fire At Orange County Multi-Family Residence Man Sentenced For Starting Fire At Orange County Multi-Family Residence
Man Sentenced For Starting Fire At Orange County Multi-Family Residence A man has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to setting fire to an apartment where he and his girlfriend lived. Larry Hickmon, age 30, of Middletown, was sentenced on Thursday, March 24, to 18 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision, according to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. Hickmon pleaded guilty to second-degree arson on Thursday, Jan. 27, in connection with the May 17 fire at an apartment complex on Concord Lane in Middletown. Earlier report - Man Charged With Assault, Arson, For Sparking Hudson Valley Fire During Domestic Disput…
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Setting Ex-Girlfriend's Apartment On Fire Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Setting Ex-Girlfriend's Apartment On Fire
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Setting Ex-Girlfriend's Apartment On Fire A persistent violent felony offender from Westchester may spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced to terrorizing his ex-girlfriend in the summer of 2020, the District Attorney announced. Mount Vernon resident Tony Clark, age 39, was sentenced to a term of 16 years to life in prison for starting two separate fires at his former partner’s apartment on Franklin Avenue, during a standoff, causing the entire building to become uninhabitable. Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that Clark previously pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted arson, a violent fel…
Suspect Nabbed For Alleged Arson Of Apartment Building In Area Suspect Nabbed For Alleged Arson Of Apartment Building In Area
Suspect Nabbed For Alleged Arson Of Apartment Building In Area A Hudson Valley man has been arrested for the alleged arson of an apartment building. Dutchess County resident Charles A. Keenan, age 48 of Dover Plains, was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 1 in connection with the fire in January in the town of Dover, said Lieutenant Shawn Castano, of the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office. The two-alarm fire took place around 9 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 13 on Brady Lane in a building that houses multiple apartments in the town of Dover, Castano said. "The alleged actions of this defendant not only endangered the lives of the residents in the apartme…
Port Jervis Woman Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire To Kill Family Port Jervis Woman Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire To Kill Family
Port Jervis Woman Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire To Kill Family A Hudson Valley woman has been charged with six counts of attempted murder for allegedly intentionally setting multiple fires inside an apartment house with the intent of killing the occupants. Orange County resident Dawn Hulse, age 50, of Port Jervis, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 25 for the incident which took place earlier in the morning. According to City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, around 12:20 a.m., the Port Jervis City Police and Fire departments responded to a fire alarm activation at a two-family home located at 156 Jersey Avenue in the City of Port Jervis.  P…
Man Sentenced For Setting Fire To Ex-Girlfriend's Home In Orange County Man Sentenced For Setting Fire To Ex-Girlfriend's Home In Orange County
Man Sentenced For Setting Fire To Ex-Girlfriend's Home In Orange County A Hudson Valley man has been sentenced to nine years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision in connection with a house fire. Orange County resident Nicholas Fontaine, age 23, of Monroe, on Monday, Jan. 24, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. According to the District Attorney's office, Fontaine pleaded guilty to second-degree arson in connection with starting the fire last year which took place in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 5 on Juniper Drive in Monroe. Fontaine's former girlfriend and her family were in the house at the time the fire er…
Orange Co. Man Charged With Murder After Setting Fatal Fire, Officials Say Orange Co. Man Charged With Murder After Setting Fatal Fire, Officials Say
Orange Co. Man Charged With Murder After Setting Fatal Fire, Officials Say A Hudson Valley man has been charged with murder and arson in connection with allegedly intentionally starting a fire at a home with people sleeping inside, killing one person. Orange County resident Ryan Veloce, age 32, of Montgomery, was charged with murder and arson on Friday, Dec. 16, in connection with the Thursday, June 10 crime, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. It is alleged that after Veloce had slept overnight at the home of Kevin Horan, age 45, located at 22 Barron Road, in the Town of Montgomery, for two nights when he intentionally killed Horan by setting fire…
Orange County Family Members Busted For Burning Down Business For Insurance Orange County Family Members Busted For Burning Down Business For Insurance
Orange County Family Members Busted For Burning Down Business For Insurance A failing restaurateur who conspired with members of his family to burn down his Hudson Valley business as part of an insurance fraud scheme is facing a host of charges, authorities announced. Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 59, of Newburgh, and his nephew’s wife, Yonkers resident Marina Gjurashaj, age 37, were indicted and charged with a series of crimes for allegedly conspiring to burn down his restaurant in 2017. Specifically, the two were charged by an Orange County grand jury with: First-degree arson; Conspiracy; Insurance fraud; Tax fraud; Various other offenses. Orange C…
21-Year-Old Sentenced For Fatal Fire That Killed Father In Area 21-Year-Old Sentenced For Fatal Fire That Killed Father In Area
21-Year-Old Sentenced For Fatal Fire That Killed Father In Area A 21-year-old from the area will spend time in prison after admitting to killing his father and setting his home on fire. Putnam County resident Louis Weber IV, of Philipstown, pleaded guilty in August to manslaughter and arson for killing his father, Louis Weber Jr., who was 72 years old at the time, in November 2019. Original story - 20-Year-Old Charged With Murdering His Father After Lengthy Investigation On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Weber was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to nine years on the arson charge. He was also sentenced to five years of post-releas…
Five Found Dead After Massive House Fire Breaks Out In New York Five Found Dead After Massive House Fire Breaks Out In New York
Five Found Dead After Massive House Fire Breaks Out In New York Five people were found dead inside a Long Island home following a massive fire overnight. The blaze broke out around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, at a three-story Riverhead residence located at 46 East 2nd St., said the Suffolk County Police. The five were found by local firefighters after the fire was extinguished, police said. Firefighters from eight departments responded.Riverhead Fire Department/Ex-Capt. Paul Sparrow Eight fire departments responded to battle the blaze that took several hours to put out. Riverhead Fire Department Ex-Chief Nicholas Luparella reported that upon arri…
21-Year-Old Sentenced For Killing Father In Area 21-Year-Old Sentenced For Killing Father In Area
21-Year-Old Sentenced For Killing Father In Area A 21-year-old from the area will spend time in prison after admitting to killing his father and setting his home on fire. Putnam County resident Louis Weber IV, of Philipstown, pleaded guilty in August to manslaughter and arson for killing his father, Louis Weber Jr., who was 72 years old at the time, in November 2019. Original story - 20-Year-Old Charged With Murdering His Father After Lengthy Investigation On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Weber was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to nine years on the arson charge. He was also sentenced to five years of post-releas…
Man Accused Of Intentionally Setting Car Fire On Parkway In Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Intentionally Setting Car Fire On Parkway In Hudson Valley
Man Accused Of Intentionally Setting Car Fire On Parkway In Hudson Valley A 27-year-old Westchester County man is facing an arson charge after police said he intentially set a car on fire. Luis Ramos, of Yonkers, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 26, on a charge of third-degree arson, according to New York State Police.  At about 4:10 a.m., troopers responded to a report of a vehicle engulfed in flames on the Taconic State Parkway northbound at mile marker 48 in the Dutchess County town of LaGrange, State Police said. Troopers found a 1999 Toyota Camry, with no occupants, in a wooded area about 80 feet from the eastern shoulder, police said. LaGrange firefigh…
Arrest Made In Fatal Stabbing Of Mother, Daughter In Hudson Valley Arrest Made In Fatal Stabbing Of Mother, Daughter In Hudson Valley
Arrest Made In Fatal Stabbing Of Mother, Daughter In Hudson Valley A Westchester man has been arrested on charges that he stabbed to death a mother and daughter in their home and then fled the area. Yonkers officials said Luis Gabriel Ramos, of Yonkers, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Salome, Arizona for the stabbing murder which took place sometime between Friday, Oct. 29, and when the two were found on Monday, Nov. 1. The two women have been identified as Isabella Triano, 70, and her 38-year-old daughter, Trisha Miller.  The women were found in their Shipman Avenue after a friend asked for a welfare check when she had not heard from one of the…
Man Admits Setting Former Girlfriend’s House On Fire In Orange County Man Admits Setting Former Girlfriend’s House On Fire In Orange County
Man Admits Setting Former Girlfriend’s House On Fire In Orange County A Hudson Valley man pleaded guilty in connection with setting a house fire while his girlfriend and family were inside. Orange County resident Nicholas Fontaine, age 23, of Monroe, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Oct. 27, to arson, in connection with the May house fire, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. According to the District Attorney's Office, Fontaine's former girlfriend and her family were in the house at the time the fire erupted, damaging the outside of the residence and destroying a car in the driveway of the residence.  On Thursday, Oct. 28, Emanuel Watson, age …
Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Area Firefighter Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Area Firefighter
Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Area Firefighter Father and son rabbis pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a fire that killed an area firefighter and another person. The two men, Rabbi Aaron Sommer and Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer, both of Rockland County, were arraigned on multiple charges that included manslaughter and negligent homicide on Thursday, Oct. 28. The charges stem from their involvement in the fatal fire at the Evergreen Adult Home in Spring Valley on Tuesday, March 23. Prosecutors said their actions of using a propane-injected torch to clean the facility's ovens and kitchen set off the fire while conducting a pre-Passov…
Greenville Man Charged With Arson Of Home That Killed Dog, Police Say Greenville Man Charged With Arson Of Home That Killed Dog, Police Say
Greenville Man Charged With Arson Of Home That Killed Dog, Police Say A Hudson Valley man has been charged with arson and cruelty to animals in connection with a fire at his parent's home that killed the family dog. Orange County resident Brett Bayo, age 29, from the town of Greenville was arrested by New York State Police for third-degree arson and aggravated cruelty to animals, both felonies. According to Trooper Steven Nevel, an investigation found that on Thursday, Sept. 23, Bayo set his parent's residence on fire.  His parents were not at home at the time of the fire. The family dog did not survive the fire.  Bayo was transported to Garnet He…
NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies
NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies New York State Police are searching for a 22-year-old man who is wanted on multiple felony charges. Two warrants were issued for the arrest of Deven Hotaling, who is from the Columbia County village of Philmont, after he failed to appear for court dates, State Police reported on Monday, Oct. 4. Police said in May of 2020, Hotaling was arrested by authorities in Livingston for forcibly stealing more than $1,700 from a ride share driver. He was charged with third-degree robbery and fourth-degree grand larceny. In August of that year, he was arrested on a second-degree arson charge for settin…
Woman Charged After Multiple Fires At Area Townhouses, State Police Say Woman Charged After Multiple Fires At Area Townhouses, State Police Say
Woman Charged After Multiple Fires At Area Townhouses, State Police Say A months-long investigation into a rash of fires at townhouses in the area led to the arrest of a 36-year-old woman who is facing arson charges, State Police announced. First responders Dutchess County rushed to the Village at Merrit Park on Jefferson Boulevard in the Village of Fishkill in April, where there were multiple reports of structure fires. Police said that in total, seven rear back porches, which had paper products being stored for recycling, were set on fire at the 200 Building, 400 Building, and 800 Building, each of which contains 24 apartments. No injuries were reported…