Police: Teen murdered girlfriend with shotgun
NORWICH – On Friday, 18-year-old Cody D. Coleman was charged for allegedly murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend with a shotgun on May 3, in the Town of Smithville.
Officials said Monday a medical report confirmed the victim was killed by a shot to the head. They also said there are no other suspects in the case.
Appearing in court, Coleman listened to the charges as they were unveiled by Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revior Jr. through a sealed grand jury indictment. The grand jury indicted Coleman for second-degree murder, a Class A felony; first-degree criminal use of a firearm, a Class B felony; and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor.
Asked why investigators did not make an immediate arrest, Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said, “You need to gather the evidence, and in this particular case, we were waiting for certain forensic results and pathology results to be determined. Since the defendant was being held in jail on a unrelated matter it gave us an opportunity to perform our jobs with those considerations.”
A few days after the death investigation began Coleman was charged with violating his probation in Smithville Town Court and placed in the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.
Ferrarese said from early on in the investigation Coleman was the only possible suspect in the case. “There was no doubt as to who the shooter was,” said Ferrarese.
The DA also confirmed that according to information from the recent autopsy, the victim in the case died after a gunshot to the head. The DA said the murder weapon was a 16-gauge shotgun.
Ferrarese said Coleman is looking at 25 years to life behind bars if convicted of the top charges.
Appearing with Public Defender John D. Cameron, Coleman pleaded not guilty to the charges. When first entering the courtroom, he along with several others in attendance burst into tears.
A number of family members and friends of the victim attended court wearing t-shirts of support and holding pictures of Wakefield. As the defendant entered the courtroom Friday there was an outburst of emotion from several in attendance.
According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernie R. Cutting Jr. the incident took place at about 6:45 p.m., May 3, at 136 Water Street in the Town of Smithville.
“As we got into the investigation a couple stories changed. Also, we got forensics back confirming the direction we are on,” said Cutting. “At that point it changed from a death investigation into a homicide investigation.”
The sheriff said the office had tracked down more than 150 leads in the case. He also noted the strong community response.
“This has been very upsetting for the community. To lose such a vibrant young lady is a terrible, terrible thing,” he said. “Her life will never be replaced. We will turn over every stone”
The sheriff declined to speculate on a motive for the alleged murder.
Coleman was remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility Friday without bail.
Pictured: Cody D. Coleman, 18, pleaded not guilty to murder, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon on Friday. He is accused of shooting his girlfriend, 16-year-old Amelia Wakefield, on May 3, in the Town of Smithville. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)
Officials said Monday a medical report confirmed the victim was killed by a shot to the head. They also said there are no other suspects in the case.
Appearing in court, Coleman listened to the charges as they were unveiled by Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revior Jr. through a sealed grand jury indictment. The grand jury indicted Coleman for second-degree murder, a Class A felony; first-degree criminal use of a firearm, a Class B felony; and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor.
Asked why investigators did not make an immediate arrest, Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said, “You need to gather the evidence, and in this particular case, we were waiting for certain forensic results and pathology results to be determined. Since the defendant was being held in jail on a unrelated matter it gave us an opportunity to perform our jobs with those considerations.”
A few days after the death investigation began Coleman was charged with violating his probation in Smithville Town Court and placed in the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.
Ferrarese said from early on in the investigation Coleman was the only possible suspect in the case. “There was no doubt as to who the shooter was,” said Ferrarese.
The DA also confirmed that according to information from the recent autopsy, the victim in the case died after a gunshot to the head. The DA said the murder weapon was a 16-gauge shotgun.
Ferrarese said Coleman is looking at 25 years to life behind bars if convicted of the top charges.
Appearing with Public Defender John D. Cameron, Coleman pleaded not guilty to the charges. When first entering the courtroom, he along with several others in attendance burst into tears.
A number of family members and friends of the victim attended court wearing t-shirts of support and holding pictures of Wakefield. As the defendant entered the courtroom Friday there was an outburst of emotion from several in attendance.
According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernie R. Cutting Jr. the incident took place at about 6:45 p.m., May 3, at 136 Water Street in the Town of Smithville.
“As we got into the investigation a couple stories changed. Also, we got forensics back confirming the direction we are on,” said Cutting. “At that point it changed from a death investigation into a homicide investigation.”
The sheriff said the office had tracked down more than 150 leads in the case. He also noted the strong community response.
“This has been very upsetting for the community. To lose such a vibrant young lady is a terrible, terrible thing,” he said. “Her life will never be replaced. We will turn over every stone”
The sheriff declined to speculate on a motive for the alleged murder.
Coleman was remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility Friday without bail.
Pictured: Cody D. Coleman, 18, pleaded not guilty to murder, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon on Friday. He is accused of shooting his girlfriend, 16-year-old Amelia Wakefield, on May 3, in the Town of Smithville. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)
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