Monday, September 16, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week CANTON - Two recent murders in St. Lawrence County appear to be connected, but details are limited. An investigation into the March 2 murder of William …
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BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week
CANTON - Two recent murders in St. Lawrence County appear to be connected, but details are limited.
An investigation into the March 2 murder of William M. Freeman, 67, of Rossie, revealed evidence that led to the release of Frederick Wing, 22, of Gouverneur, who was charged in February with the murder of Ronald Durham, 72, of Gouverneur.
Durham’s body was found Feb. 11, and Wing was charged the next day. Wing was known to be an acquaintance of Durham.
On March 3, St. Lawrence County Attorney Gary Pasqua said Wing was being released under probation supervision.
On March 4, Pasqua said authorities did not believe Wing was responsible for Durham’s death based on new evidence that’s been found but have not formally dropped the murder charge at this time.
Pasqua said that given the new evidence, he did not believe Wing should continue to be jailed and made efforts late Friday to have him released.
He said charges related to that crime or others are possible for Wing, and expected there would be an update early next week, but couldn't further comment at this time.
On Thursday, March 2, Freeman was found dead inside his trailer on County Route 10.
On March 3, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe said that the incident was believed to be a homicide and that seven warrants were executed as part of the investigation.
It seems that the evidence found in the warrant executions led to Wing’s release, but further information is being guarded as the investigation continues.
Despite two connected murders in the past month in St. Lawrence County, Pasqua and the sheriff said there was no concern for the general public at this time, though neither would say if a person was in custody at this time.
Pasqua said he did not believe the crimes were related to domestic or drug issues and said he had no reason to believe the victims were acquaintances.
In a WWNY news report, Wing’s attorney Ed Narrow was quoted as saying that another suspect was in police custody, but North County This Week has not yet been able to confirm the validity of the statement.
