Defendant Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter for Killing Woman Inside of Her Town of Tonawanda Home

Modified: April 29, 2022 11:26am

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4/29/2022

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 24-year-old Joshua E. Wilson of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge ahead of his jury trial, which was scheduled to begin next week.

On May 4, 2020, at approximately 11:00 p.m., the defendant killed 71-year-old Diane M. Wolfe inside of her Yorkshire Avenue home in the Town of Tonawanda by beating her with a gardening tool from her yard. After committing the killing, the defendant stole the victim’s vehicle and other items from her home.

Wilson faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to remain held without bail.   

DA Flynn commends the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in the investigation as well as other law enforcement agencies for their assistance, including U.S. Marshals Service, Utica Police Department, Buffalo Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau.