Allen Witruke
MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson announced Thursday that his office has reached a plea agreement with the man accused in the double homicide that took place in Jamestown in December 2015.
Swanson said 56 year-old Allen Witruke entered a plea of guilty to two counts of First Degree Manslaughter on Thursday morning in front of Acting County Court Judge James Bargnesi.
On December 8, 2015, deputies of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department Civil Division entered the defendant’s home at 235 Barrows St. in the City of Jamestown to execute an eviction and discovered the bodies of Catherine Witruke, Allen Witruke’s wife, and Eric Washburn, Witruke’s step-son. The DA’s office says Witruke had beaten and stabbed Washburn to death and stabbed his to death. He then fled to Olean where other members of his family lived before being located by Olean Police officers.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Jamestown Police Department, Olean Police Department and the Chautauqua County Forensic Investigation Team for their outstanding work on this case,” Swanson said in a statement. “The amount of investigation and hard work that goes into prosecuting murder cases is astronomical and each and every officer involved in this case needs to be commended.”
“This case was tragic and heartbreaking. As with any domestic based homicide, families are ripped apart and left devastated.” Swanson said, “We’re happy with the outcome and satisfied that the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions. Hopefully the family members of the victims can begin the healing process.”
Under state law, the penalty for each count of 1st degree manslaughter is 5 to 25 years in prison (10 to 30 yrs. in prison for an aggravated offense).
Sentencing is scheduled August 22, 2017 in front of Judge Bargnesi.
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