Teen Sentenced for the Murder of Her Step-Grandfather

Modified: February 22, 2019 9:47am

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2/22/2019

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 18-year-old Alexandria Heath of Buffalo has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to an indeterminate sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

The defendant admitted that on November 17, 2017, at approximately 9:30 p.m., while acting in concert with her boyfriend, she intentionally caused the death of 58-year-old Thomas Heath by beating and stabbing him inside his West Ferry Street home.

Health pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A” violent felony, in December 2018. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against her.

Last month, Judge Case sentenced her co-defendant, 20-year-old Romaine Jirdon, to 20 years to life in prison. He also pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree for his role in the crime.

“This is one of the most violent and disturbing cases that has been prosecuted by my office,” said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. “Mr. Heath was brutally murdered by a young girl who he loved. I hope that his family feels that justice has been served by the defendant pleading guilty to her crime and being sentenced to a significant amount of time in prison.”

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of Buffalo Police Homicide Detectives Christopher Sterlace, Terrence Supples, Scott Malec, Mark White and Detective Sgt. James Dunham.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Joseph A. Agro and Assistant District Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.