ONEONTA – The morning he was reported missing, Eliaas A. Zedeno-Correa’s roommate informed Job Corps staff that the 19-year-old had gone out the window the night before, OJC Director Chris Kuhn said today.
“Students have to sign in and out,” said Kuhn. “But the next morning, his roommate told us he went out the window and ran off.”
State troopers found Zedeno-Correa’s body Wednesday, Jan. 8, partially submerged in a creek off West Street, two days after he was reported missing. The Union City, N.J., native had been at Job Corps since October and was enrolled in the autobody program.
“They had just come back from winter break,” saod Kuhn. “He arrived on campus and checked in that evening.”
ONEONTA – The body of a 19-year-old Oneonta Job Corps student reported missing for two days was found partially submerged in a creek off West Street on Jan. 8, State Police spokesperson Aga Dembinska confirmed today.
The student was identified as Eliaas A. Zedeno-Correa of Union City, N.J.
State Police Captain Jeffrey A. Dorward, Troop C, memorializes Trooper Jill Mattice on the 10th anniversary of her death during a memorial service held today at the Troop C barracks. Mattice, then 31, was killed on State Route 23 in the Town of Morris, Otsego County on Jan. 20, 2010, as a result of a motor vehicle collision when her vehicle sideswiped an oncoming tractor trailer. A State Trooper since 2003, she was assigned at SP Oneonta as a School Resource Officer for the Unadilla Valley Central and Franklin School Districts. The memorial service, which included a wreath-laying ceremony, was attended by family members, Oneonta Police, Otsego County Sheriff’s deputies and members of Troop D who had served alongside Jill. (Photo courtesy of Trooper Aga Dembinska)
ONEONTA – Just in time to save Christmas, State Police arrested a man for stealing packages off porches in Oneonta’s West End.
Andrew J. VanDusen, 38, Gilbertsville, was arrested after police received several complaints from West End residents about packages being stolen off their porches. After reviewing doorbell camera footage, police allegedly identified VanDusen, and later, a resident spotted a male that matched the description on Jefferson Avenue and alerted troopers.
EXETER – Four days after the Susquehanna SPCA rescued Zoe, a dog in such distress that she is believed to have chewed off her own leg, her owner was arrested and charged with abuse and failure to provide shelter.
Carl K. Pritchard, Exeter, was charged with a misdemeanor of over-driving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance and a violation for failing to provide appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors.
“The dog was chained to the ground with a plastic pet carrier that had hay at the bottom,” said Trooper Aga Dembinska, public relations, Troop C. “There was no food bowl and a frozen-over water bowl.”
Scott Heggelke, Captain of the Bureau of Criminal Investigators, Troop C, said that Kenneth Robinson was shot multiple times with long guns at his home in Worcester on Thursday. Five people, four of them juveniles, were arrested and charged, four with murder in the second degree and burglary in the first degree and one with burglary, first degree. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
“The first responding troopers saw a man lying just inside his door,” said BCI Capt. Scott Heggelke, Troop C, in a 12:30 press conference at the State Police Oneonta Barracks. “The house was on fire, but the trooper pulled him outside, and it was obvious that he was the apparent victim of multiple gunshot wounds.”
OTEGO – A Unadilla woman died early this morning after she allegedly crashed her car into the wall by the Betty Beaver gas station on Route 48 in Otego.
According to Trooper Aga Dembinska, public information officer, Troop C, troopers from Oneonta responded to a crash at 2:50 a.m. in Town of Otego and found the victim, a 27-year-old from Unadilla, deceased inside a 2015 Kia.
OTEGO – Two teens were arrested after they allegedly crashed a stolen car on I-88 here and fled the scene early this morning.
According to Trooper Aga Dembinska, public information officer, Troop C, an abandoned 2013 Chevy Malibu was spotted facing the wrong way in the westbound lane of I-88 between Exits 12 and 13 at 5:26 a.m. The car had been reported stolen in Albany.
NEW BERLIN –The pedestrian struck by a car on Friday evening near the Unadilla Motorcross Track has died, state police reported a few minutes ago.
A Utica man is being held on DWI and other charges in the incident, which was investigated by troopers from the Oneonta Barracks deployed to the track for a race weekend.
CONCERT – 6:30 – 8 p.m. Local band The Butternut Valley Boys perform mix of country, gospel, bluegrass, more to benefit inn’s restoration. Major’s Inn, 104 Marion Ave., Gilbertsville. 607-783-2967 or visit www.themajorsinn.com
UNADILLA – A 69-year-old Unadilla woman was critically injured Saturday when she was struck by a Jeep that drifted into the shoulder where she was walking, Trooper Aga Dembinska, Troop C public information officer, reported.
Susan Haney was walking southbound on the east shoulder of County Route 4 when she was allegedly struck by a 2007 Jeep Patriot driven by Nicole L. Wilber, 34, Unadilla, who was driving north. According to police, the passenger-side headlight and mirror struck Haney, who was then thrown several feet onto the shoulder.
ONEONTA – An 88-year-old Laurens woman got a call, purportedly from Cooperstown Police: Her granddaughter had been in an accident, she was fine, but her car had been impounded and she needed $4,000 in cash to get it out.
The woman was instructed to wrap the money in a sweater and mail it to Staten Island. She did so, shipping the package overnight from The Shipping Room in Oneonta. But when the same person called back and asked for four Home Depot cards, she asked, “Is this a scam?”
“The person on the other end of the line said ‘Thanks for playing’ and hung up,” said Trooper Aga Dembinska, Troop C public information officer.
ONEONTA – Be on high alert for phone scams that have bilked nearly $70,000 out of unsuspecting Otsego County residents so far this year, advises Trooper Aga Dembinska, Troop C public information officer.
In a press release, police warn that the following scams have been reported to Troop C:
ONEONTA – State Police at Oneonta are warning the public of another phone scam.
In the scam, the person who receives the call says his or her son was involved in an accident; to keep him out of jail, they must immediately obtain Google pre-paid cards and give them a code.
ONEONTA – Just in time to save Christmas, State Police arrested a man for stealing packages off porches in Oneonta’s West End.
