Two charged with murder
Bodies of 4 victims were found Tuesday in Troy, police say
TROY, N.Y. » A pair of Schenectady men are facing murder charges for killing two women and two children, Troy police said.
Justin C. Mann, 24, and James W. White, 38, both of Schenect- ady, are charged with one count of first- degree murder and four counts of second- degree murder, after their arrest at Mann’s 627 Hamilton St. residence in Schenectady, at about 8:50 p.m. Friday.
The bodies of Shanta Myers, 36, her two children, Jeremiah Myers, 11 and Shanise Myers, 5, and Brandi Mells, 22, were found Tuesday afternoon by a property manager, who was responding to a call asking him to check on the tenants in the apartment at 158 2nd Ave. in Troy.
Police declined comment about a possible motive in the case, described as “savagery and barbarism,” or connections between either suspect and any of the victims. But Troy Police Chief John
Tedesco said he’s confident the persons responsible for the crimes have been apprehended.
“I don’t need to tell you how good it feels to have these two defendants in custody,” Tedesco said during a Saturday morning press conference. “It’s a great feeling of relief. This was never an us versus them. It was about the victims from the beginning.”
No additional arrests are expected, although an investigation is continuing and more charges might be lodged against Mann and White. Police declined comment about how the victims died and reasons for the one first-degree murder charge, which carries a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole.
Police also declined comment about which man allegedly committed each specific crime and which, if either, man led the attacks.
Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove said the victims’ families “have suffered an unspeakable loss. I can’t imagine the unspeakable pain they must be suffering right now.”
Information given in court said the killings took place at about 9 p.m., Dec. 21.
In addition to Troy City Police, multiple agencies including the state police Computer Crimes Unit, the FBI’s Albany office, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and Schenectady City Police took part in the investigation. The Albany Crime Analysis Center also played an instrumental role, along with the Capital Region Crime Stoppers, launched earlier this month, which allows tipsters to send information anonymously to local law enforcement through the web or their cell phone.
Tedesco credited the public’s help with Friday’s arrests.
Mann and White didn’t resist when officers from various agencies converged on Mann’s residence to arrest them, police said.
They were arraigned Saturday morning in Troy City Court and sent to Rensselaer County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Police spent two days collecting evidence at the Troy apartment where the victims were found, and are now scouring Mann’s residence for information that might shed light on reasons for the crimes. Without discussing specifics, police said cell phones, cell towers and video surveillance cameras were instrumental in the arrests, and will likely provide more valuable evidence in the case against Mann and White.
“We’re confident that we have a great case here, that we’re going to give Joel (District Attorney Abelove) a great case to prosecute,” said Major Robert Patnaude, state police Troop G commander.
“The rapid apprehension and arrest of two suspects in connection with this tragic crime is welcome news for our community and the victims’ families impacted by this senseless tragedy,” Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said in a statement. “I extend my thanks to Chief Tedesco, Troy Police Department command staff, detectives, investigators, the New York State Police, and other regional law enforcement agencies for their tremendous and tireless efforts on this case. My heart remains with both the Myers and Mels families and hope that, with the support of the Troy community, they can begin to heal.”
Tedesco said both suspects have criminal records and Mann is currently on parole. He declined comment about the nature of either man’s prior arrests.
White is represented by the Rensselear County public defender’s office; Mann by the conflict defender’s office.
Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski said she hopes the arrests bring some small amount of closure to the families’ loss.
“Obviously this has been a heartbreaking week,” she said. “Our hearts go out to the families. There’s a lot of grieving that will go on.”