A 70-year-old New York man who was found guilty of using an ax to murder his wife in 1982 was sentenced to 25 years to life on Monday, the Monroe County District Attorney stated onher official Twitter account.
“James Krauseneck was sentenced to the max 25 years to Life for killing Cathleen Krauseneck with an ax while she slept in her Brighton home in 1982,” DA Sandra Doorley tweeted. “Here at the MCDA’s office, we do not give up on victims. We will do everything in our power to secure justice, even 40 years later.”
On February 19, 1982, Brighton Police Officers were called to James' home, which he shared with his wife Cathleen and their 3-year-old daughter Sara. His 29-year-old wife was found deceased in her bed.
“Reports show that Cathleen was killed from a strike in the head with an ax while she slept,” Doorley stated in aSeptember press release.
James Krauseneck.Brighton Police Department
Since 2015, Doorley and investigators from the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office worked with the Brighton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroe County Crime Lab and renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to further review the case.
“I am proud to be a part of the team who found justice for Cathleen Krauseneck 40 years after James Krauseneck took an ax from his garage and used it to strike her head while she was asleep,” Assistant District Attorney Patrick Gallaghersaid in a statement.
Cathy and James Krauseneck.
“It has been one of the great pleasures of my career to get to know Cathy’s family and to be able to help in securing justice for their loved one,” he said.
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The couple’s daughter supported her father James, whom she said was “convicted of a crime he did not commit.” Sara Krauseneck Young added, “The justice system has failed my parents, myself and both sides of my family.”
Cathleen’s father, Robert Schlosser, accused James of brainwashing Sara and told her they continued to love her before addressing her daughter’s killer. “Jim, I hope you live to be 100 years old and enjoy your new home.”
The station reported James' attorney plans to appeal.
source: people.com
