GENESEO, N.Y. — A 30-year-old man from upstate New York faces murder charges after reportedly attempting to deliver his father’s body to a sheriff’s office, law enforcement officials confirmed.
Richard Fluegel Jr. contacted emergency services late Monday, stating he had a deceased individual he wished to bring to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office located in Geneseo, as shared by Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.
“In terms of receiving a 911 call about an individual wanting to present a deceased person, it’s certainly an unusual situation,” Dougherty remarked during a press conference held on Tuesday.
Upon arriving at the parking lot, deputies discovered the lifeless body of Richard Fluegel Sr., aged 60, inside his son’s vehicle, the sheriff explained. The elder Fluegel had been reported missing just the day before.
Initially, Fluegel Jr. was taken into custody on a charge related to evidence tampering. However, he now faces more severe accusations, including murder and the criminal use of a firearm. He entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment on Tuesday and is being held without bail, with a court appearance scheduled for December 16.
The investigation is still active, and law enforcement has not yet disclosed specifics regarding the circumstances surrounding the elder Fluegel’s death.
As for legal representation, there was no attorney listed for Fluegel Jr. in the court documents, and inquiries directed towards the district attorney’s office have gone unanswered, leaving questions about his representation unanswered.
Sheriff Dougherty also aimed to reassure local residents about their safety, emphasizing that such occurrences are rare in Livingston County, known for its picturesque Finger Lakes region.
“This is not the kind of event we usually encounter,” he stated. “It’s uncommon for individuals to appear and claim they possess a dead body with the intention of turning it in.”
