The four suspects in town of Carroll court, after being charged with the double homicide of two residents in the Town of Carroll on April 17, 2013. (Image from WIVB)
FREWSBURG – Four men have been captured in connection to the death of two residents in the town of Carroll and have each been charged with two counts of 2nd degree homicide. That this morning after the four men were arraigned Thursday night before Justice Willard Cass in Carroll Town Court.
On Thursday afternoon, Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace and District Attorney David Foley held a press conference announcing the names of the victims and also announcing that four individuals from Elmira, N.Y. were in police custody and being held in connection to the double homicide, which took place Wednesday Morning on Wheeler Hill Road in the town of Carroll.
- AUDIO: LISTEN TO THURSDAY’S MEDIA CONFERENCE
(length: 15 minutes, 8 seconds)
Arrested were 34 year-old Davide Coggins, 21 year-old Joshua McCormick, 18 year-old Ricky Knickerbocker and 18 year-old Steven Todd. The four are allegedly responsible for the home invasion and subsequent death of 66 year old Gordon Skinner and 59 year old Joyce Skinner. Police were notified of the deaths after the Frewsburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire call at the Skinner residence Wednesday morning and first responders found the victims inside the home.
Gerace said it was only due to the coordinated work of several police agencies – including the Sheriff office, the state police, the town of Carroll Police and the Elmira Police Department – that they were able to capture the four men so quickly. He also said several others should also be recognized for their assistance, including first responders and local residents.
Foley also said that while the four individuals believed to be involved with the murders are now in custody, the investigation is ongoing. Neither Foley nor Gerace would go into details of a possible motive, but the sheriff did say that while it was a home invasion, it was not random. The sheriff also would not go into details of how the murders took place, only to say that no firearms were involved. He also said it was one of the worst crime scenes he’s encountered in more than three decades of law enforcement.
The Sheriff and D.A. are also asking local residents to contact them immediately if they had either seen the suspects or their vehicle – a 2003 Tan Pontiac Grand Am – in the area on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. They say any eye witness accounts of the individuals or the vehicle will be needed as they continue their investigation.
As for the four suspects, all will remain in the Chautauqua County Jail. They are due back in court next Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
[…] four men have been charged with two counts of second degree homicide in connection with the incident. Each was arraigned on the charges last Thursday night and are […]