Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 17-year-old Devon VanDerWege of Marilla has been arraigned by Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk on an indictment charging him with Murder in the Second Degree. 

It is alleged that on or about March 10, 2017, at 2039 Hemstreet Road in Marilla, the defendant, while caring for 2-year-old Ethan Bigham of Marilla, caused the death of the boy from blunt force trauma. 

VanDerWege pleaded not guilty and was remanded to jail without bail. 

If convicted of the charge, the defendant faces a maximum 25 years to life in prison. 

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, including Senior Detective Jack Graham, and Detectives Jonathan Hanna, Christian Parisi and Shaun Hediger. 

Chief Colleen Curtin Gable of the DA’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas T. Texido are prosecuting the case. 

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.