HAMBURG, NY – Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Jared M. Adamski of Village of Hamburg was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony).
It is alleged that during the early morning hours of Sunday, July 10, 2022, the defendant intentionally caused the death of the victim by stabbing him multiple times in the upper area of each leg. The crime occurred in a wooded area near Heltz Road in Lakeview. The victim, 25-year-old Brenden Benoit of Boston, New York, died at the scene.
Two co-defendants were also arraigned today before Judge Bargnesi for their alleged role in the homicide under the theory of accomplice liability. Harrison J. Drozen, 20, of North Carolina, formerly of the Village of Hamburg, was also indicted on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. Kayleigh A. Skybyk-Schuh, 19, of the Village of Hamburg, was indicted on one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The defendants are accused of conspiring to lure the victim to a wooded area with the intent to commit the crime. It is alleged that on July 10, 2022, that defendant Skybyk-Schuh drove with the victim and others to the location where Adamski, Drozen, and Connor Krone were hiding in the woods in order to attack the victim.
When the victim exited the vehicle, he was allegedly punched by one of the male defendants. The victim retreated back into the vehicle in an attempt to escape the attack. It is further alleged that defendant Adamski, while armed with a knife, attacked the victim inside of the vehicle. Adamski is accused of stabbing the victim multiple times during the attack.
Two additional co-defendants were also indicted by a Grand Jury. Connor E. Krone, 22, of the Village of Hamburg, is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Elexus Dean, 20, of the Village of Hamburg, is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, September 19, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. A sixth co-defendant was who initially charged in lower court was not indicted by the Grand Jury.
Adamski, Drozen and Skybyk-Schuh were held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.
If convicted of the highest charge, Adamski and Drozen face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. If convicted of the highest charge, Skybyk-Schuh faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Gina M. Gramaglia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.