Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 64-year-old Michael A. Osuch of Town of Hamburg was arraigned yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree (Class “A-I” felony), one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies).

It is alleged that on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at approximately 4:51 p.m., the defendant assaulted his mother inside of their residence on Bristol Road in the Town of Hamburg. The defendant is accused of hitting the victim in the head and body with an object. The victim allegedly ran out of the house to escape the attack and call out for help. The defendant’s mother, a 91-year-old female, was taken by ambulance to ECMC. She suffered various serious physical injuries including a laceration to her head and a fractured skull.

The defendant is also accused of assaulting his sister, 72-year-old Christine T. Osuch, during the incident. When Christine Osuch allegedly saw her mother bleeding and went inside of the home to get a towel, she was attacked by the defendant. Christine Osuch suffered serious physical injuries, including a large cut to her head, fractured skull and a brain bleed. She was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she later died on May 23, 2022. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death as homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Osuch was initially arraigned before Hamburg Town Court Justice Gerald P. Gorman on two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felonies) on May 9, 2022. He was held without bail pending the results of a forensic examination. He was deemed competent to proceed.

Osuch is scheduled to return on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to remain held without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Osuch faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Town of Hamburg Police for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Felony Trials Bureau.  

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