Justice has yet to be served for the murder of Nicholas Burdge in March 2020
By Michael T. Baldwin
Seven others have accepted plea deals and some have been sentenced to probation or prison, but one man wants a jury trial. Howard Burroughs is charged with second-degree murder and he demands a jury trial after firing several attorneys. Burroughs remains in the Allegany County Jail, charged with murder in the beating death of a young man inside in North Main Street apartment in Wellsville.
Howard M. Burroughs was due to stand trial earlier this year, but the case was adjourned after the prosecutor was removed from his job. County court officials said this afternoon that no new trial date has been set. The idea of a Special Prosecutor was floated, however the Allegany County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case would be prosecuted locally, likely by Ian Jones, the first-assistant DA.
On March 23, 2020 the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) from the Amity barracks, with the assistance of the Wellsville Police Department, arrested Dylan L. Coomer, 26, Brandon J. Poehmel, 21, Lawrence C. Haxton III, 34, Howard M. Burroughs, 41 and a 16-year-old juvenile all of Wellsville, NY for Murder 2nd degree (A Felony) and Manslaughter 1st degree (B Felony). Richelle L. Kyser, 28 of Wellsville, NY was arrested for Tampering with Physical Evidence (E Felony).
On March 24, 2020, the BCI also arrested Kristopher Delill, 38 for Murder 2nd degree (A Felony) and Manslaughter 1st degree (B Felony) and a 17-year-old juvenile for Assault 3rd degree.
On March 22, 2020 at 10:19 a.m., Troopers responded to the discovery of a body along the bank of the Genesee River by Jack Bridge Road in the town of Willing. The body was wrapped in a sheet and plastic garbage bags. The NYSP Forensic Identification Unit (FIU) and the BCI responded to process the crime scene. The Underwater Recovery Unit checked the Genesee River for further evidence. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Nicholas A. Burdge, 23 of Wellsville, NY. Fingerprint and tattoo analysis aided in the identification.
Further investigation by the BCI, including area interviews and interviews with family and friends of Burdge, led to the identity of the suspects. The cause of death for Burdge was from multiple injuries that included blunt force and sharp force trauma after the suspects allegedly tied him to a chair and beat him repeatedly at a home in the village of Wellsville. Police said the suspects later took Burdge to the Genesee River to dump the body.
All the adult suspects were arraigned at Allegany County Court and the Juvenile was arraigned in Youth Court.
NYSP Forensic Identification Unit, Underwater Recovery Unit, Wellsville Police Department and the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
