Police: Utica Man charged in 2007 Homicide of Jennifer Bennett
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: May 30, 2012
A body was found behind the fire station in Deerfield, and now five years later, investigators have made an arrest.
30-year-old Craig Ingersoll of Utica is charged in the 2007 homicide of Jennifer Bennett.
According to police, DNA evidence has played a major role in making this homicide case.
Jennifer Bennett's body was found by people who were sledding down the hill back in January of 2007.
Although there are many unanswered questions at this time, Jennifer's sister says she is finally finding closure.
" I want to know how it all went down. I want to know if she suffered. I just found out now that she was strangled and raped at the same time.," says Denise Barrett, the sister of the victim.
Five years later, police have now arrested and charged 30-year-old Craig Ingersoll of Utica.
Although there were various suspects in this investigation, officials say DNA evidence finally led them to a perfect match in September of last year.
"He was not someone initially someone on our radar. We had a person's DNA. We did not know who it belonged to. That was one of the reasons why I was such a proponent in expanding the DNA database because of Jennifer's case in particular," says Oneida County District Attorney, Scott McNamara.
The DNA databank has been expanded various times. It was initially developed for murderers and sex criminals.
It was through one of the expansions that Craig Ingersoll is now charged for the death of Jennifer.
Ingersoll is in jail for unrelated charges of Grand Larceny and a Violation of Family Court Act.
"We knew where he was he was confined on something else and that gave us time to do a thorough investigation," says McNamara.
Family members say although Jennifer did have a troubled past, they want people to know she had a good heart.
"She'd give off the shirt off the back for you and they post the wrong side of her," says Barrett.
As for Jennifer's three children, her sister says they're getting by one day at a time.
"They're hurt. You have to drag back what was a long time," says Barett.
Ingersoll is charged with murder in the second degree and criminal sexual act in the 1st degree.
Ingersoll was arraigned in the Village of New York Mills Court.
He is currently being held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility with no bail. He is due back in court Tuesday afternoon.
