Police seek information on homicide

SCHUYLER COUNTY--Law enforcement officials were joined in a press conference Aug. 17 by the family of the late Richard Seeley almost a year after his death to ask for help from the general public in solving the case. District Attorney Joseph Fazzary promised the full dedication of local law enforcement until the case is solved.
"We are seeking information, we really believe that as Ms. Seeley said that someone knows something.... Somebody knows what happened that day, so we are asking the general public to come forward to help in solving this case and give some closure to his family and prosecute the person who committed this horrible offense," Fazzary said.
Richard Seeley was found deceased inside his house by his mother Deborah after she went to check on him. While long suspected to involve foul play, Friday's press conference marked the acknowledgment of a homicide.
"This has been an ongoing and slow investigation but not for lack of effort," Fazzary commented. "We understand the frustration because we haven't solved it yet."
A poster has been created calling for "Justice for Richard Seeley" and lists phone numbers of 607-535-8222, 607-535-8224 and tips@co.schuyler.ny.us for any information about the incident.
"We are not just going to let this go, we are not going to make this a cold case," Fazzary said.
Prior to Fazzary speaking Deborah Seeley spoke and pleaded for help from the public.
"We really need help, this family needs closure," Seeley said. "Somebody knows something that somebody is not saying. Now that we are all out and getting out in the open more... hopefully someone will hear something and let us know what happened and who did this."
Homicides are not a common occurrence in Schuyler.
"Our last (homicide) was in 2012, so we've gone almost 10 years," said Fazzary. "It's just not something that happens here, we are a peaceful small community."
While a break in the case will never right the wrong of Richard Seeley's death, his mother said it would bring the next best thing, justice.
"It may not help but it will sure bring justice for Richard and that is what he needs," Seeley said. "Somebody knows something and they need to speak up."
Discussing the investigation itself, Fazzary gave scant information but did confirm that the New York State Forensics team has recovered multiple items of interest from the scene and submitted them for lab analysis.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Fazzary did say that new leads are being generated and are being investigated by police.
"Maybe those leads will turn out to be nothing. Maybe they will lead to evidence. We won't know until they are followed up on," Fazzary wrote.
He went on to say that despite the quiet nature of the investigation nothing is being intentionally hidden from the public.
"All law enforcement decisions have been thought out and planned with respect to acceptable protocol for the sole purpose of finding the person who killed Richard," Fazzary wrote. "Yes, Richard and his family deserve justice but killers are brought to the courtroom based upon evidence, not fear in the community. We are continuing to develop that evidence in hopes that the killer will be held accountable."