Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe addresses the media during a press conference regarding two recent homicides in St. Lawrence County. Also pictured left to right are Deputy Justin Poliniak, Lt. Christopher Hileman, District Attorney Gary Pasqua, Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe, Undersheriff Sean O’Brien and Deputy Harshan Johal. NCTW photo by Jeff Chudinski.
BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week
CANTON — A Lake Placid man has been charged in the March 2 murder of William M. Freeman and faces another potential murder charge in the death of Robert Durham.
According to St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe, Adam W. Smith, 46, was charged with second-degree murder on March 7.
During a press conference held on the afternoon of March 7, Bigwarfe said he would not go into specifics about the case due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation.
He did confirm Smith was charged with Freeman’s homicide on March 2, saying Smith allegedly stabbed Freeman to death.
Following the subsequent struggle, Smith stole Freeman’s 2018 Chevy Silverado and fled to Jefferson County in the vehicle before being apprehended by Jefferson County Sheriff Deputies.
Bigwarfe said Smith was then transferred back to St. Lawrence County, where the Sheriff’s Office charged him with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property as well.
Throughout the course of the investigation, numerous interviews have been conducted by multiple departments, with numerous leads followed up on that led to the arrest, Bigwarfe said.
Bigwarfe also confirmed numerous search warrants have been executed in recent days on many properties, vehicles and locations relevant to the investigation.
Bigwarfe also confirmed Smith does have a residence in the town of Gouverneur as well but would not elaborate further on how he got to the area on March 1.
Assisting in the investigation were New York State Police, Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Watertown City Police, North…
Read the full article here