In light of inquiries regarding the indictment of Michael Rodriguez for the 1979 homicide of Patti Rodriguez, Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces the following.

Several months ago, members of the New York State Attorney General’s Office conferred with members of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Bureau about the continuing investigation of the Patti Rodriguez homicide and the viability of a criminal prosecution against the chief suspect, Michael Rodriguez. After discussing the case at length with the Attorney General’s Office, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office agreed that the case should be assigned to the Attorney General’s Office. Since that time, additional investigation has been undertaken under the direction of the Attorney General’s Office and discussions have continued between members of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office, including discussions between DA Sedita and AAG Kelly Donovan, Chief of the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office. The case was recently presented to a Special Erie County Grand Jury and today, the Attorney General’s Office announced that Michael Rodriguez was indicted for the homicide of Patti Rodriguez.

DA Sedita stated: “I applaud the efforts of both the New York State Police and the New York State Attorney General’s Office. Whether it is the United States Attorney’s Office, the New York State Attorney General’s Office or the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, at the end of the day, which agency prosecutes the case is not nearly as important as that the defendant is brought to justice.”