Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that two defendants have pleaded guilty as accomplices in a homicide that occurred in a wooded area in Lake View. Both defendants entered guilty pleas ahead of their jury trial, which was scheduled to begin next week.
Earlier today, Kayleigh A. Skybyk-Schuh, 20, of Hamburg pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony). She pleaded guilty, as charged, to all counts in the indictment.
Harrison J. Drozen, 22, of Hamburg pleaded guilty before Judge Case to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense in the indictment against him on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Skybyk-Schuh and Drozen were indicted under the theory of accomplice liability for their role in the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Brenden Benoit of Boston, New York. The defendants conspired to lure the victim to a wooded area with the intent to commit the crime. During the early morning hours of Sunday, July 10, 2022, Skybyk-Schuh drove the victim, Elexus Dean and two other individuals to the location near Heltz Road in Lake View. Drozen and two other co-defendants, Connor Krone and Jared Adamski, were hiding in the woods to attack the victim.
Drozen and Skybyk-Schuh each face a maximum of 25 years in prison when they are sentenced on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Both remain held without bail.
Connor E. Krone, 22, of the Village of Hamburg pleaded guilty for his involvement in the assault of the victim. He pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) on July 24, 2023. Krone faces up to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, May 30, 2024. He was released on his own recognizance pending sentence.
Elexus O. Dean, 22, of the Village of Hamburg pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony) on October 6, 2023. She faces up to 4 years in prison when she is sentenced on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Dean remains released on her own recognizance.
Another co-defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) for their involvement in the crime. As the defendant must be sentenced as a youthful offender due to their age at the time of the crime, our office will not be releasing their identity.
It is alleged that on July 10, 2022, the victim was allegedly punched by one of the male defendants as he exited the vehicle in the wooded area. The victim retreated back into the vehicle in an attempt to escape the attack. It is further alleged that Jared Adamski, while armed with a knife, attacked the victim inside of the vehicle. Adamski is accused of intentionally causing the death of the victim by stabbing him multiple times in the upper area of both legs. Adamski and his co-defendants allegedly drove away from the area, leaving the injured victim in the woods. The victim, Brenden Benoit, died at the scene.
Jared M. Adamski, 27, of Hamburg was indicted on one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony) and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony). His case remains pending. The matter is scheduled to return before Judge Case on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. for further proceedings.
Adamski remains held without bail. If convicted of the highest count, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Acting DA Keane commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Ryan D. Haggerty of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau and Assistant Chief 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.