Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that five defendants have entered guilty pleas to various charges related to cold cases investigations after DNA evidence connected them to their crimes.

Baqi Muti, 62, of Buffalo pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree on May 10, 2018. The defendant admitted that on November 2, 2016 at approximately 1:30 a.m., he used a pick axe to forcefully enter Buffalo Public School 74 Hamlin Park Academy on Donaldson Road. The break-in was captured on surveillance video. Once inside, the defendant stole a cash box containing a sum of money. DNA on the pick axe, which was left at the scene, linked the defendant to the crime. Muti, a prior felon, faces up to 4 years in prison when he is sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski on June 19.

Nickolas Heath, 25, of Buffalo pleaded guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree on May 1, 2018. On August 20, 2015, the defendant broke into a home on McKinley Parkway in the City of Buffalo where he stole cash, credit cards and a tablet. DNA evidence found on a broken screen linked the defendant to the crime. Heath faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski on June 13.

Brandon DeBlasi, 22, of Dunkirk pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree on May 9. On June 13, 2016, the defendant unlawfully entered Kings Total Car Care on Broadway in Depew by breaking the door handle with a cement block. Once inside, he stole a van and various tools. The defendant’s blood was found on the broken door handle, and the DNA evidence linked him to the crime. DeBlasi, a prior felon, faces a maximum of 4 years in prison when he is sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski on June 12.

Victoria Henderson, 20, of City of Tonawanda pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and Offering a False Instrument on May 10 for her role in the burglary of Kings Total Car Care. The defendant admitted to forging DMV paperwork to sell the stolen van. She faces up to a year in prison when she is sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski on July 30.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Langenfeld of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau prosecuted these cases.

James Saxon, Jr., 62, of Buffalo pleaded guilty to two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree on May 16. DNA evidence linked the defendant to burglaries at the following locations:

• Ruach Health Temple on Genesee Street in Buffalo on September 3, 2010
• The MOCHA Center on Main Street in Buffalo on January 3, 2011.
• Serenity Thru Counseling on Kensington Avenue in Buffalo on October 12, 2015,
• Fireline 520, LLC on Walden Avenue in Buffalo on December 11, 2015.

The defendant stole various and electronics and tools from the locations. Saxon, a prior felon, faces a maximum of 7 years in prison. He must complete a program through Veteran’s Division Court. His sentencing will be scheduled pending his progress in the program.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Beatrice Benedict of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau prosecuted this case.

“This office will continue to aggressively investigate cold cases to bring justice to the victims of these unsolved crimes,” DA Flynn. “When I became District Attorney, I assigned an assistant district attorney to go through these cases and prosecute offenders when new evidence comes forward. Thank you to our partners for maintaining these DNA databanks, which provide the most crucial evidence to aid in our cold case investigations.”