Update at 2:30 p.m. — Lt. Dan Donahue said Gregory S. Fish — who is charged with burglary — knew the occupant of the home. Jennifer L. Ecker, also charged with burglary, knew the occupant “vaguely.” The man who was killed did not know the occupant.
Update: Police have identified a man who was killed during a Trumansburg burglary early Saturday morning.
Patrick R. Mutter, 35, of Brewerton, was pronounced dead at an apartment at 37 West Main Street with “puncture type wounds.”
Police responded to a report of a stabbing at 1:46 a.m.
In a news release, police said that a woman was standing outside the residence while two men and Mutter were inside.
An investigation, police said, indicated that Mutter and Trumansburg residents Gregory S. Fish, 32, and Jennifer L. Ecker, 27, forced their way into the residence and were confronted by an occupant.
Police said a “physical altercation ensued” resulting in Mutter’s death.
Fish and Ecker have been charged with felony second-degree burglary in relation to the incident.
They were arraigned at the Ulysses Town Court and remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail and $50,000 bond.
Police are still investigating the incident.
The New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit, Trumansburg Police Department, Trumansburg Fire Department and Bangs Ambulance assisted at the scene.
TRUMANSBURG, N.Y. — Police responded to a fatal stabbing early Saturday morning in Trumansburg.
The call was reported to police at 1:46 a.m. at 37 West Main Street, at apartments connected to Word of Mouth Catering.
Tompkins County Sheriff’s deputies are still at the scene as of 10:54 a.m.
A window on the side of the building appears to be bashed in.
“At this point there is no evidence to support the conclusion that it was an unjustifiable homicide,” District Attorney Matt Van Houten said.
He said he could not speak directly to the case, but an example of a justifiable homicide would be self-defense.
Van Houten said two people have been charged with second degree burglary in relation to this incident. He also confirmed that one person was killed.
This continues to be an ongoing investigation and officials have ordered an autopsy, he said.
Officials have not released the identify of the victim.
New York State Police, the Trumansburg Police Department and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department were at the scene late Saturday morning.
Correction: In the sixth paragraph from the bottom of this story, DA Matt Van Houten said “unjustifiable homicide” not “unjustified homicide.” The quote has been corrected.
This is a developing story.
Photos: Police investigate a fatal stabbing in Trumansburg Saturday morning. Photos by Jolene Almendarez/The Ithaca Voice
