Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on December 19, 2023
A Rochester man is free from prison after 37 years, after his murder conviction was vacated. Michael Rhynes left Attica Correctional Facility on Tuesday. He was originally arrested in 1984 in connection with a botched robbery at a bar on Lexington Avenue. The situation escalated into a shooting that killed two people: Enrico Ferrari and Robert Hurysz, the latter of whom had tried to ward off the robbery. Rhynes was convicted in 1986 and sentenced to 52 1/2 years to life in prison. According to court paperwork, two jailhouse informants — Roy Timmons and Joe Smith — who met Rhynes while they were incarcerated as he awaited trial have now recanted their testimony, admitting they lied. And according to the court, Rhynes has proven this fact.
A woman in Syracuse has delivered a baby she’ll never meet. The pregnant woman, identified as 26-year-old Apreona Harris, who was shot in the head in broad daylight Friday near downtown Syracuse has been declared brain dead. Doctors were able to deliver her newborn, a healthy baby boy. He is currently at Upstate Hospital, and Onondaga County Child Protective Services will soon be taking custody of him. Once the DA’s office can get DNA from the shooting suspect, 34-year-old David Kirby III, it will do an official paternity test to determine whether he is the father of the baby. Right now, Kirby is charged with attempted murder in the second degree. Once Harris is taken off life support, the charge will upgraded to murder
The Lewiston Police Department is investigating after a woman was found dead from apparent weather-related conditions. Police said officers responded to Niagara University for the report of an unresponsive person around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday and 68-year-old Emily J. Neal of the Town of Niagara was found dead. Police believe she wandered from her home last night and died due to the weather conditions. The investigation is ongoing.
New York will begin deliberations on reparations for slavery after Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday creating a commission to consider the race-based payments. In June, New York lawmakers passed a bill that called for a nine-member commission to “examine the institution of slavery” and “make determinations regarding compensation.” New York joins other Democrat-led states that have established reparations commissions after California was the first to do so in 2020 followed by Illinois. California’s reparations task force determined that the state was responsible for dishing out over $500 billion to black Americans even though slavery was illegal in California when it joined the Union in 1850. In New York, State Senate Republican leader Rob Ortt said that the commission’s recommendations would come at an “astronomical cost” to taxpayers and argued that reparations have already been paid.
The Knights of Columbus presented 40 hams to the Agri-Business Child Development Center, which in turn gave them to the families of the children under its care. The Knights represent nearly 50 members of the local council. The Catholic men’s organization represents over 2,000,000 worldwide members who promote charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The local council uses fundraisers to donate to local charities.
In a high scoring game the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Buffalo Sabres 9 to 4 at the Keybank Center Tuesday night. Rasmus Dahlin, Kyle Okposo, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Cozens made goals for the Sabres. Goaltender Devon Levi stopped 14 of 18 shots before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entered the game midway through the second, stopping 10 of 15 shots in relief. Up next the Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center Thursday for the second night of WinterFest, featuring the North Pole starting at 6:30.
