Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces 39 year old William Tyes of 492 Dodge Street, Buffalo was sentenced to 25 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case.

In February of 2016, Tyes pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree in the death of his mother, 68 year old Lenora Tyes.

Between February 7, 2015 and February 10, 2015, while inside their home at 492 Dodge Street, the defendant fatally beat his mother about her face and head with an unknown blunt object. 

The defendant hid the victim’s body in a front foyer by closing the door, draping a sheet over the door and placing a couch in front of the sheet.  The defendant then lied to family and friends about his mother’s condition as he attempted to flee the area.

The victim’s body was found on February 10, 2015, at 12:30 p.m., while Buffalo Police Detectives Judith Walker and Adam Stephany were investigating a missing person’s report filed by the victim’s sister-in-law. The defendant was found hiding in a friend’s apartment on February 10, 2015.

Acting DA Flaherty is crediting Detective Michael Mordino and Detective Richard Wagstaff of the Buffalo Police Homicide Squad, and Detectives Adam Stephany and Judith Walker of the Buffalo Police Sex Offense Squad for their thorough investigation of the case.