Final defendant in fatal Lake View stabbing sentenced
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The final defendant in the 2022 case of a group of people luring and fatally stabbing a man in the woods in Lake View has been sentenced for her role in the crime, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
Elexus Dean, 22 and formerly of Hamburg, was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation after she pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with physical evidence in October 2023.
The group, led by 27-year-old Jared Adamski, lured 25-year-old Brenden Benoit into the woods off of Heltz Road in the early morning hours of July 10, 2022. It is alleged that once Benoit arrived at the wooded area, which the group told him was for a party, he was punched by one of the defendants and attempted to retreat into the vehicle to escape. During the attack, Adamski stabbed Beniot in the legs multiple times and then abandoned him in the woods. Benoit died at the scene.
Four people: Adamski, 20-year-old Kayleigh Skybyk-Schuh, 22-year-old Harrison Drozen and 22-year-old Connor Krone were all sentenced last week for their roles in the stabbing. Adamski received the longest sentence, at 25 years. A sixth defendant was previously sentenced for their role. WIVB News 4 reporting from 2022 identified her as Larissa Smith, then 18 years old.
Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane said last week that the case started with Skybyk-Schuh falsely accusing Benoit of sexually assaulting her, which led to retaliation from the group.
Upon Dean’s release from jail, her probation supervision will be transferred to South Dakota, where she currently lives.
Latest Local News
Watch: Olympian Anita Alvarez brings silver medal home, hopes to compete in LA
Buffalo pharmacy pays over $140K to settle recordkeeping, misbilling allegations
Buffalo man admits to role in murder, drug and gun charges
Police: Missing boy whose body was found in South Buffalo home died by stabbing
Motorcyclist dead after crashing into light pole in Buffalo
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.