Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 17-year-old Alexandria Heath and 20-year-old Romaine Jirdon, both of Buffalo, have been arraigned by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case on an indictment charging Jirdon with Murder in the First Degree, and both Heath and Jirdon with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree in the death of Alexandria’s step-grandfather, 58-year-old Thomas Heath of Buffalo. 

It is alleged that on November 17, 2017, at around 9:30 p.m., the defendants beat, stabbed and robbed the victim in their home at 459 West Ferry in Buffalo. 

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were remanded to jail without bail. 

If convicted of the charges, Jirdon faces a maximum of life in prison without parole and Heath faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison. 

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of Buffalo Police Homicide Detectives Christopher Sterlace, Terrence Supples, Scott Malec and Detective Sgt. James Dunham. 

Deputy District Attorney Joseph A. Agro and Assistant District Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker are prosecuting the case. 

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.