Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 31-year-old Shane Stevenson of Cheektowaga has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia to 50 years to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend and her young son. 

In March, Stevenson pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in the Second Degree. 

On September 15, 2016, Stevenson strangled his girlfriend, 30-year-old Raina Voll and her 7-year-old son Leo Klinger at their Cheektowaga apartment at 1331 French Road. 

“Justice Buscaglia implied he couldn’t find a reason not to give this defendant the maximum sentence,” says DA Flynn. “As District Attorney, I cannot either, and I am pleased Mr. Stevenson received the most severe punishment under the law.” 

DA Flynn commends the outstanding investigative work of the Cheektowaga Police Department, including Sgt. John Wanat, Officer John Jones and Detectives David Stevens, Michael Hockwater, David Mossman and Timothy Szymanski. 

Colleen Curtin Gable, Chief of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, prosecuted the case.