Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

BUFFALO – The two men accused of killing Mary Whitaker last month in her Westfield summer home have pleaded not guilty to all federal charges during a hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

According to a report in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford pleaded not guilty to federal charges of carjacking, use of a firearm to commit a crime of violence and felon in possession of a firearm.

The three charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The judge has given the U.S. attorney prosecuting the case until Oct. 31 to submit any voluntary discovery material or evidence to the court. The public defenders assigned to the case will then have until Dec. 12 to review the evidence and make any pre-trial motions. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 28, 2015, but that may be pushed up if no motions are filed by the defense.

Charges related to murder have yet to be filed, pending an indictment by a county grand jury.

The two men are accused of showing up at Whitaker’s home in the town of Westifled during the early morning of Aug. 20, shooting and stabbing Whitaker and then robbing her home. After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. Her body was discovered by a friend later that day. Both Conklin and Sanford were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

According to news reports, Sheriff deputies Friday afternoon named both 43-year-old Jonathan M. Conklin and 30-year-old Charles Sanford as suspects in the case. Sanford’s residence is listed as an Erie address while Conklin’s residence was unknown at the time of his arrest. The two were arrested separately in Erie, Pa. following a two-day investigation, with authorities locating Conklin’s car in Erie and also learning that her credit cards had been used in the hours following the shooting. Authorities went to the businesses where the credit cards had been used and were able to place one of the suspects at the location where the card had been used.

The two will be charged with stealing property and taking it across state lines, car jacking and murdering its owner and using a firearm during a crime of violence. They face up to life in prison if convicted. They were to be arraigned Friday night in Federal Court in Buffalo.

Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation into the shooting death of Whitaker immediately following the discovery of her body at her residence. Authorities say she was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the chest. Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace said during the news conference that Whitaker was likely being forced to give information at the time of her murder.

Whitaker was a long-time member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra at Chautauqua Institution, where she played violin. She stayed at the Titus Rd. home during the summer season and lived in New York City the rest of the year.

In addition to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office working on the case, investigators with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania are provided assistance, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.

Mary Whitaker (Image from Westchester Philharmonic)

WESTFIELD – The name of the victim in the homicide that took place in the Town of Westfield has been identified. Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace Thursday afternoon announced today the name of the victim of as 61-year-old Mary E. Whitaker of 8448 Titus Road in that town and also of New York City. Gerace also said the Whitaker was identified following an autopsy, where the cause of death was ruled a homicide by an apparent gunshot wound.

Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation on Wednesday following the discovery of the body of Whitaker at 8448 Titus Rd. Police were called to the scene after a report came in of an assault victim at the residence who was possibly deceased. According to the newspaper report, Gerace had said Whitaker was the sole victim and others in the area were not in danger, although he would not go into any detail about a possible suspect or motive.

Whitaker was reportedly a long-time member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, where she played violin. She stayed at the Titus Rd. home during the summer season.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.

On Wednesday, Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation into the discovery of  the body of an unidentified female in her 60s at 8448 Titus Rd.

Police were called to the scene after a report came in of an assault victim at the residence who was possibly deceased. According to the newspaper report, Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace had said the woman was the sole victim and others in the area were not in danger.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.