Sunday, June 30, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This WeekCANTON – A Lake Placid man charged with the murders of Ronald Durham, 72, Gouverneur, and William Freeman, 67, Rossie, last year won’t face trial until fall.
Although the trial was …
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BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This WeekEdited at 9:20 a.m. May 16 to clarify citation.
CANTON – A Lake Placid man charged with the murders of Ronald Durham, 72, Gouverneur, and William Freeman, 67, Rossie, last year won’t face trial until fall.
Although the trial was expected to begin in June, St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua confirmed it’s been delayed until fall with no date set at this time..
Adam Smith was indicted on charges of first and second degree murder, manslaughter, first degree robbery, and first degree assault for the Feb. 11, 2023 killing of Durham.
The indictment also charges Smith with the crimes of first and second degree murder, manslaughter, first degree robbery, and first degree assault, third and multiple accounts of fourth degree grand larceny for the March 1, 2023 killing of Freeman.
Freeman murder
Smith was officially charged with second-degree murder in the death of Freeman on March 7. At that time, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe reported that Smith stabbed Freeman to death on March 1 in Freeman’s trailer on County Route 10 in the town of Rossie.
According to the sheriff, Smith then stole Freeman’s 2018 Chevy Silverado and was later apprehended Jefferson County.
Evidence gathered at the Freeman murder quickly led law enforcement to Smith, Bigwarfe said. It was also noted that Smith had a criminal history and was on probation at the time of his arrest.
Durham murder
On Feb. 11 State Police responded to East Side Cemetery on Van Buren Road around 8:20 a.m. following a report of a deceased male.
When troopers arrived on the scene, they reportedly located Durham deceased under suspicious circumstances.
An autopsy has determined Durham died from sharp force injury to the neck.
During a press conference held last year Pasqua said Smith was also involved in the killing of Durham. He was later formally charged with murder.
Smith is currently an inmate at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility.
