ELMA, N.Y. — An Elma man faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to his girlfriend's death on Wednesday.
Frank J. Litterio, 61, of Elma was arraigned Friday afternoon at Erie County Medical Center, where he's currently hospitalized in a secure unit, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office. State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller, acting as an Elma Town Court Justice, presided over the arraignment.
The district attorney's office said the Erie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on the 1800 block of West Blood Road in the Town of Elma. The Sheriff's office said they were answering a 9-1-1 call requesting to check on the welfare of Litterio, which they said was placed by his daughter.
Deputies who arrived found 62-year-old Jill Harris, whom they described as Litterio's long-time live-in girlfriend, dead inside the home.
"She was deceased from arrows that were shot from a crossbow," Erie County Undersheriff William Cooley confirmed. "The autopsy revealed that she had been struck three times by arrows, once in the abdomen, once in the face, and once in the chest."
Litterio was then taken by ambulance to ECMC, where he was treated for "suspected self-inflicted wounds."
"He had a cut to his neck, he had a cut to his wrist and he had puncture wounds to his torso area," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said. "It was obviously a horrific scene."
Authorities maintain that Litterio intended to kill Harris.
"When you consider what it takes to load and fire a crossbow there's a process to it. So this was clearly a deliberate action," Cooley said.
Litterio's next court appearance — a felony hearing — is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29. He's being held without bail.
Litterio faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. New York State Police assisted with the investigation.