Undersheriff: ‘Nothing to show an accident occurred’
NORWICH – Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff James Lloyd – the agency’s sergeant-detective in April of 2002 – took the stand Wednesday as the prosecution’s testimony in the case against accused murderer Peter Wlasiuk continues.
Twice convicted of second degree murder – a class A-1 felony – it’s alleged that Wlasiuk smothered his wife, Patricia, on April 3, 2002, at their Oxford home. According to District Attorney Joseph McBride, Wlasiuk then loaded his wife’s body into the bed of his 1998 GMC pick-up truck, later driving or pushing the vehicle into Guilford Lake in an effort to cover up the crime.
Wlasiuk, who successfully appealed both convictions – in 2006 and 2011, respectively – says he and his wife were driving east on County Road 35 in the Town of Guilford when Patricia lost control of the truck while trying to avoid a deer before veering into the lake. Following his arrest, Wlasiuk changed his story, stating he and Patricia had been arguing and she purposely drove the truck into the lake.
Both stories, according to McBride, are false, and Wlasiuk’s motives were threefold: an end to his unhappy marriage; an extra-marital affair, one that began as a three-way love triangle; and a $100,000 life insurance policy Wlasiuk had purchased for his wife just months before her death.
Lloyd’s testimony was delayed for approximately 30 minutes yesterday due to a procedural issue concerning the prosecution’s full disclosure of evidence – in this case the original Miranda Rights statement signed by Wlasiuk on April 5, 2002, two days after the alleged murder. The jury was removed from the courtroom as McBride, defense attorney Mark Loughran and acting Chenango County Court Judge Joseph Cawley discussed the issue, and returned following the day’s lunch recess with the matter resolved.
Lloyd said Wlasiuk was at first “very cooperative” when relating the events of April 2 and 3 during his initial interview, yet became “combative” when told his story didn’t hold up with the evidence on the scene. Wlasiuk waved his Miranda Rights prior to the interview, testified Lloyd, who said there was “nothing to show an accident occurred” when he first viewed the stretch of shore where the truck entered the lake.
According to the undersheriff, Wlasiuk said the truck fishtailed from right to left before entering the waters of Guilford Lake as his wife swerved to miss a deer. There was no evidence, added Lloyd, of any skidmarks or damage to the grass leading to the lake’s edge when he viewed the scene. Lloyd testified that Wlasiuk – during the interview – stated he and his wife were on their way to Joyce Worden’s home on Mechanic Street, in the Hamlet of Guilford, when the incident occurred.
Lloyd testified that Wlasiuk admitted he and his wife had formed a three-way sexual relationship with Worden, who was watching the couple’s three children when the incident occurred. The relationship had “changed dynamics at some point,” however, added Lloyd, who – at the interview’s conclusion – said he accused Wlasiuk of murdering his wife.
Wlasiuk’s reply to the accusation, said Lloyd, was “[Expletive] you.”
If convicted, Wlasiuk could face up to 25 years to life in state prison. He is currently being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.
The trial resumed at 9 a.m. today with Undersheriff Lloyd’s cross examination by the defense in the Chenango County Courthouse.
Twice convicted of second degree murder – a class A-1 felony – it’s alleged that Wlasiuk smothered his wife, Patricia, on April 3, 2002, at their Oxford home. According to District Attorney Joseph McBride, Wlasiuk then loaded his wife’s body into the bed of his 1998 GMC pick-up truck, later driving or pushing the vehicle into Guilford Lake in an effort to cover up the crime.
Wlasiuk, who successfully appealed both convictions – in 2006 and 2011, respectively – says he and his wife were driving east on County Road 35 in the Town of Guilford when Patricia lost control of the truck while trying to avoid a deer before veering into the lake. Following his arrest, Wlasiuk changed his story, stating he and Patricia had been arguing and she purposely drove the truck into the lake.
Both stories, according to McBride, are false, and Wlasiuk’s motives were threefold: an end to his unhappy marriage; an extra-marital affair, one that began as a three-way love triangle; and a $100,000 life insurance policy Wlasiuk had purchased for his wife just months before her death.
Lloyd’s testimony was delayed for approximately 30 minutes yesterday due to a procedural issue concerning the prosecution’s full disclosure of evidence – in this case the original Miranda Rights statement signed by Wlasiuk on April 5, 2002, two days after the alleged murder. The jury was removed from the courtroom as McBride, defense attorney Mark Loughran and acting Chenango County Court Judge Joseph Cawley discussed the issue, and returned following the day’s lunch recess with the matter resolved.
Lloyd said Wlasiuk was at first “very cooperative” when relating the events of April 2 and 3 during his initial interview, yet became “combative” when told his story didn’t hold up with the evidence on the scene. Wlasiuk waved his Miranda Rights prior to the interview, testified Lloyd, who said there was “nothing to show an accident occurred” when he first viewed the stretch of shore where the truck entered the lake.
According to the undersheriff, Wlasiuk said the truck fishtailed from right to left before entering the waters of Guilford Lake as his wife swerved to miss a deer. There was no evidence, added Lloyd, of any skidmarks or damage to the grass leading to the lake’s edge when he viewed the scene. Lloyd testified that Wlasiuk – during the interview – stated he and his wife were on their way to Joyce Worden’s home on Mechanic Street, in the Hamlet of Guilford, when the incident occurred.
Lloyd testified that Wlasiuk admitted he and his wife had formed a three-way sexual relationship with Worden, who was watching the couple’s three children when the incident occurred. The relationship had “changed dynamics at some point,” however, added Lloyd, who – at the interview’s conclusion – said he accused Wlasiuk of murdering his wife.
Wlasiuk’s reply to the accusation, said Lloyd, was “[Expletive] you.”
If convicted, Wlasiuk could face up to 25 years to life in state prison. He is currently being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.
The trial resumed at 9 a.m. today with Undersheriff Lloyd’s cross examination by the defense in the Chenango County Courthouse.
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