Ithaca, N.Y. — Benjamin Cayea was indicted Tuesday on one count of second-degree murder, according to Tompkins County Court records.
Why I shop downtown — Carmen
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District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson signed the grand jury indictment, dated Tuesday. It states that on Nov. 27, 2014, “the defendant, with intent to cause the death of a person, caused the death of a person.”
Cornell student Shannon Jones, 23, was found dead in her Cayuga Heights home by law enforcement on Thanksgiving Day. The beloved senior was an independent major in the engineering college, a member of a belly dance troupe, and a part of Professor Mason Peck’s Violet student satellite project.
“It’s devastating for everyone involved,” said Yashvardhan Rathore, a friend of Jones, shortly after the death. “She was very kind. She was very intelligent.”
Cayea has admitted to law enforcement that he killed Jones, according to court records.
“During a digitally recorded interview the defendant admitted that he killed Shannon S. Jones by squeezing her neck with his hands,” police state in the court documents.
“Cayea said he knew Jones was dead because she was blue and had no pulse. Cayea said he did not try to perform CPR nor did he call for help.”
You can reach the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County’s domestic violence hotline here: 607.277.5000
Round-up of previous coverage
Crowd fills Cayuga Heights courtroom for Benjamin Cayea hearing – Wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackled at the wrists and ankles, Benjamin Cayea entered the village of Cayuga Heights courtroom. Ithaca Voice
Police records: Cayuga Heights man admitted to strangling Cornell student to death – Police described the murder as an incident of domestic violence. Ithaca Voice
Family, friends, teachers mourn death of bright Cornell student from Washington, D.C., area – Shannon Jones was loved by those who knew her. Ithaca Voice
Leader of Tompkins advocacy center on the importance of fighting domestic violence – “There is help and there is support.” Ithaca Voice