Frank Litterio: Elderly man charged for fatally shooting his longtime girlfriend using 'powerful weapon'

ELMA, NEW YORK: A 61-year-old man named Frank Litterio has been arrested and is now facing charges for fatally killing his longtime girlfriend in multiple parts of her body using crossbrow. During the recent court hearing, the accused was presented before the court and officially charged. 

Erie County Undersheriff Bill Colley disclosed additional details about the crime scene. Moreover, following the incident where he shot his girlfriend, Litterio was discovered to have self-inflicted wounds, including a laceration to his neck, multiple puncture wounds to his chest, and injuries to his wrist.

What happened at crime scene?

According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, on Wednesday, December 13 at approximately 5 pm, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the residence where they discovered the lifeless body of 62-year-old Jill Harris, the victim of a fatal crossbow wound.

Additionally, it was clarified that Frank Litterio's self-inflicted wound was seemingly caused by a different weapon, not the crossbow. 

Following the incident, Litterio was transported to the Erie County Medical Center, where he faced arraignment on Friday for a second-degree murder charge, as stated by the district attorney.

During a press conference, Erie County Undersheriff Bill Cooley commented on Litterio's self-inflicted wounds, stating that when the police arrived at the residence, all of the man's wounds were described as 'superficial', except for one, although he did not provide further details. 

The district attorney refrained from speculating on whether Litterio had attempted to take his own life, emphasizing that an ongoing investigation is in progress.

 Additionally, the police mentioned that it appeared Jill Harris had been deceased for a considerable period by the time Erie County officers reached the Elma home, though the exact duration was unclear, as per AP news.

What did prosecutors say?

Information regarding the homicide was limited, but Attorney Flynn revealed during last week's press conference that it was Litterio's sister who, out of concern for her brother, contacted the police and requested a wellness check by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. 

Whether there was an altercation between the couple remains unclear, though authorities asserted that Litterio's actions appeared deliberate. 

Undersheriff Cooley emphasized the intentional nature, stating, “When you consider what it takes to load and fire a crossbow, there’s a process to it so this was clearly deliberate action,”

Flynn pointed out that the crossbow used did not shoot "Robin Hood arrows" and described it as “a pretty powerful weapon”.

 Officials noted that a murder case involving a crossbow was unprecedented in their community, and Flynn assured reporters that a motive was not necessary for the case to proceed to trial.

Following Litterio's arrest, he was escorted to a local medical center for treatment of his wounds, where he remained as of Wednesday. 

At his recent arraignment, Litterio's defense counsel waived the time limit on the case.

Flynn explained that typically, a defendant must appear in court within six days if held without bail.

After completing his treatment, Litterio will be promptly transferred to a detention center and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 29.

The sheriff’s office has not yet provided Litterio’s booking photo, and it remains unclear if one has been taken since he was immediately transferred to a medical center as per Law&Crime.