{"id":11217,"date":"2014-08-22T20:40:04","date_gmt":"2014-08-23T00:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=11217"},"modified":"2014-08-22T20:40:04","modified_gmt":"2014-08-23T00:40:04","slug":"suspects-identified-in-shooting-death-of-mary-whitaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/suspects-identified-in-shooting-death-of-mary-whitaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspects Identified in Shooting Death of Mary Whitaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

MAYVILLE – Authorities from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office<\/strong> and the U.S. Attorney’s office<\/strong> say they’ve arrested two men they believe are connected to the shooting death of Mary Whitaker<\/strong>, the 61-year-old Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra<\/strong> violinist. Whitaker was found dead Wednesday, Aug. 20 at her home at 8448 Titus Rd., just to the north of Sherman. Police believe she was killed after coming up during a burglary in progress by the two suspects.<\/p>\n

According to news reports, Sheriff deputies Friday afternoon named both 43-year-old Jonathan M. Conklin<\/strong> and 30-year-old Charles Sanford<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong> said during the news conference that Whitaker was likely being forced to give information at the time of her murder.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In addition to the Chautauqua County Sheriff\u2019s office working on the case, investigators with the Erie County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/strong> in Pennsylvania are provided assistance, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MAYVILLE – Authorities from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s office say they’ve arrested two men they believe are connected to the shooting death of Mary Whitaker, the 61-year-old Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist. Whitaker was found dead Wednesday, Aug. 20 at her home at 8448 Titus Rd., just to the north of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Suspects Identified in Shooting Death of Mary Whitaker","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[304,4223,443,4218,4224,1297,4201,4219,4225],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3YlJ4-2UV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16482,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/second-man-involved-in-whitaker-homicide-pleads-guilty\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":0},"title":"Second Man Involved in Whitaker Homicide Pleads Guilty","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"December 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"MAYVILLE - The second of two men connected to the murder of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist Mary Whitaker has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says 44 year-old Jonathan Conklin pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday. Conklin\u2019s trial was scheduled to begin in January.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11281,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/westfield-homicide-suspect-charged-for-burglarizing-sherman-business-in-early-august\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":1},"title":"Westfield Homicide Suspect Charged for Burglarizing Sherman Business in Early August","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"August 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"MAYVILLE - One of the two men arrested in connection with the shooting death of Mary Whitaker - the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist found dead Aug. 20 inside her Westfield Home - is facing a new charge on an unrelated burglary case that took place earlier this month in Sherman.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18121,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/conklin-sentence-scheduled-for-wednesday-in-county-court\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":2},"title":"Conklin Sentencing Scheduled for Wednesday in County Court","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"May 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"MAYVILLE - One of the two men involved in the 2014 murder of a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in county court. The Chautauqua County District Attorney\u2019s office says 44 year-old Jonathon Conklin will be sentenced this afternoon in county court on a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18278,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/sanford-sentenced-to-15-years-to-life-for-role-in-whitaker-murder\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":3},"title":"Sanford Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Role in Whitaker Murder","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"May 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"MAYVILLE - The second man involved in the killing of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist Mary Whitaker has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison. On Friday 32 year old Charles Sanford was sentenced in county court for second degree murder. Sanford and accomplice Jonathan Conklin were arrested\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Charles-Sanford-feature.jpg?fit=470%2C279&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16119,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/2014-westfield-homicide-suspects-plead-guilty-to-federal-charges\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":4},"title":"2014 Westfield Homicide Suspects Plead Guilty to Federal Charges","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"October 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"BUFFALO - Progress is being made in the prosecution of two men involved in the 2014 home invasion and murder of a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. On Wednesday 31 year-old Charles Sanford pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm. The charge carries a maximum sentence\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11299,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/no-bail-for-westfield-homicide-defendents\/","url_meta":{"origin":11217,"position":5},"title":"No Bail for Westfield Homicide Defendents","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"August 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"BUFFALO - The two homeless men who are accused of killing a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra during a home burglary will be held without bail. That after both 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford appeared in Buffalo Federal Court Thursday for a detention hearing on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Conklin.jpg?fit=601%2C351&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11217"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11217"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11218,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11217\/revisions\/11218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}