Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Andre C. Whigham, also known as “Dro,” of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony).

On or about the late evening of January 29, 2021 into the morning of January 30, 2021, the defendant caused the death of his girlfriend by strangling her with his hands inside of an upstairs apartment on Gold Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 22-year-old Tiara Lott, was reported missing by her family. Buffalo Police found her body alongside railroad tracks near Wex Avenue in the City of Buffalo on February 13, 2021.

Whigham faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to be held without bail.

DA Flynn commends Detective Adam Stephany of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad for his work in this investigation as well as the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in locating the defendant.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the Homicide Bureau.