Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 51-year-old Mario Turner, Sr. of Town of Tonawanda has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-1” felony.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at approximately 8 p.m., the defendant fatally shot 49-year-old Renee Taschetta at their apartment on Dumas Place in the Town of Tonawanda.

The defendant was initially charged in Town of Tonawanda Court on one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, a Class “E” felony. However, after further investigation by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, the defendant was subsequently indicted by a Grand Jury on the murder charge.

Turner is scheduled to return on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a motion argument. He remains held without bail.

If convicted on the charge, he faces 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends Det. Capt. Joseph Fennell and Det. Thomas Moore Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ashley M. Morgan of the DA’s Homicide Bureau.

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