Focus of 2002 Westville murder narrows

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October 21, 2009

Fleury investigation centers on acquaintances, DA says

By DENISE A. RAYMO The Press Republican Wed Oct 21, 2009, 11:28 PM EDT

WESTVILLE — The investigation into the October 2002 murder of Marie Fleury has intensified to focus on only the people closest to her, rather than strangers.

"We're refocused to those who knew her best and knew the house the best," Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne said during an update for community members Monday evening at the Westville Town Hall.

"It is the opinion of State Police, experts and my office that this is not a death by a random stranger, but I can't go into detail.

"Marie Fleury has not been forgotten and will not be forgotten by this office or the New York State Police."

He said State Police investigators have followed 615 leads since the 64-year-old nurse was found bludgeoned to death in her home at 3835 Route 37, next to the Elm Circle Restaurant, on Oct. 17, 2002.

An autopsy listed her death was a result of blunt-force trauma to the head and torso.

A hammer recovered at the house was sent to a crime laboratory to determine if it was the murder weapon.

She was last seen alive by her husband, Robert Fleury, at about 4 p.m., and he told police he found her dead when he returned home around 8 p.m.

Champagne, who held a moment of silence in her memory before he began his remarks, said investigators have had "a staggering amount of leads and a staggering amount of work."

Of the 615 leads logged, 100 of them came in the past 12 months, the DA said.

The number of leads and the information they provided is what led to refocusing the case to those who knew her and knew her home, rather than continuing a wider search "all over the Northeast," Champagne said.

A $16,000 reward remains in place for any information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the killer or killers.

Following the murder, the community of Westville formed a Neighborhood Watch Program. Champagne praised its members for their work reporting suspicious behavior and other information to authorities.

A profile of the case and contact information for the State Police is posted online at www.troopers.state.ny.us/wanted_and_missing/Homicide/.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepubliccan.com