A shocking case unfolds in western New York as Richard Fluegel Jr. faces murder charges for allegedly killing his father and turning himself in with the body.

At a Glance

• Richard Fluegel Jr. charged with second-degree murder of his father, Richard Fluegel Sr.
• Fluegel Jr. turned himself in at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office with his father’s body
• The murder is believed to be connected to a marijuana grow operation
• Fluegel Jr., a convicted felon, is being held without bail

Son Turns Himself In With Father’s Body

In a case that has stunned the community of western New York, Richard Fluegel Jr. has been charged with the murder of his father, Richard Fluegel Sr. The shocking turn of events began when Fluegel Jr. arrived at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office with his father’s body in his car and his defense attorney in tow. The incident, which spanned three days and two counties, has left law enforcement officials grappling with an unusual and tragic situation.

Sheriff Thomas Dougherty described the unprecedented nature of the case, stating, “As far as the call into dispatch saying that they wanted to turn in a deceased body, that’s very abnormal, as you can imagine.” The 911 call, made by Fluegel Jr.’s lawyer, Brian DeCarolis, reported the presence of a dead body in the parking lot, setting in motion a series of events that would lead to murder charges against the son.

Details of the Crime Emerge

Investigators believe that the son allegedly shot his father twice with a 12-gauge shotgun. After the murder, Fluegel Jr. reportedly wrapped his father’s body in a tarp and transported it in his car to the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered the weapon believed to be used in the crime.

Richard Fluegel Jr. now faces serious charges including second-degree murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, and second-degree tampering with physical evidence. As a convicted felon with two prior offenses, he is being held without bail. The gravity of the situation is compounded by Fluegel Jr.’s criminal history and the bizarre circumstances surrounding his surrender.

Marijuana Business Connection

Adding another layer to this complex case, investigators have uncovered a potential motive related to the legal marijuana industry. Sheriff Dougherty revealed that the younger Fluegel was allegedly attempting to start a marijuana grow operation on the property where his father was shot. This information has led authorities to explore the possibility that the murder may be connected to business interests in the legal marijuana market nearby.

The investigation into the homicide is ongoing, with law enforcement working to piece together the events that led to this tragic outcome. Fluegel Jr. has entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled to return to court. As the community grapples with the shock of these events, Sheriff Dougherty has sought to reassure the public about the safety of Livingston County, emphasizing the unusual nature of this incident.

“Livingston County is a safe place. This kind of stuff doesn’t happen. We don’t have people just show up and say they have a dead body with them and they’d like to turn in. It’s not common,” said Dougherty.