Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that five of the six defendants have been sentenced for their respective roles in the homicide of 25-year-old Brenden J. Benoit in Summer 2022.
Jared M. Adamski, 28, of Hamburg was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case as a second violent felony offender. He received a determinate sentence of 25 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. Adamski pleaded guilty ahead of his scheduled trial for stabbing Benoit during the planned assault, which resulted in his death. In May 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), which was the lesser included offense in the highest count of the indictment. Today, he received the maximum sentence for his conviction.
Jared Adamski and his co-defendants conspired to lure the victim to a wooded area with the intent to commit the crime. During the late evening of Saturday, July 9, 2022, and into early morning hours of Sunday, July 10, 2022, Kayleigh Skybyk-Schuh drove the victim, Elexus Dean and two other individuals to a location near Heltz Road in Lake View. Jared Adamski, Harrison Drozen, and Connor Krone were hiding in the woods, waiting to assault the victim.
The victim was punched by one of the male defendants as he exited the vehicle in the wooded area. The victim retreated into the vehicle in an attempt to escape the attack. Jared Adamski, while armed with a knife, attacked the victim inside of the vehicle. Adamski, with the intent to cause serious physical injuries, stabbed the victim multiple times in the upper area of both legs. Adamski and his co-defendants drove away from the area, leaving the injured victim alone in the woods. Brenden Benoit died at the scene. His body was later found in the woods.
Kayleigh A. Skybyk-Schuh, 21, of Hamburg was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. On Friday, May 17, 2024, Skybyk-Schuh pleaded guilty 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 was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. Drozen pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), the lesser included offense in the indictment, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Connor E. Krone, 24, of Hamburg was sentenced to time served and five years of probation 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.
Elexus O. Dean, 22, of formerly of Hamburg, pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony) on October 6, 2023. Dean, who was scheduled to be sentenced today, faces a maximum of 4 years in prison. At this time, her sentencing date has not been rescheduled.
A sixth co-defendant was previously sentenced to 360 days of incarceration for their involvement in the crime. The co-defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony). As the defendant was adjudicated as a youthful offender due to their age at the time of the crime, our office will not be releasing their identity.
Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of a witness.
“I hope that the family and friends of Brenden Benoit feel that justice has been served by all six defendants being convicted for their involvement in this senseless and horrific crime,” said Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane.
Acting DA Keane commends Detective Sgt. Howard Widman, Detective Jason Nappo, Detective Timothy Colling, Detective William Stowell and members of the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation. Acting DA Keane also acknowledges the work of our office’s victim advocates Kimberly Rapp and Nicole Haffa.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Gina M. Gramaglia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and former Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty.