Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Damante T. Stansberry, age 23, of Middletown, was arraigned in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with the crimes of  Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the First Degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree for the death of a Wallkill man who was found stabbed multiple times inside the detached garage of his Town of Wallkill residence.   Stansberry was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $1,000,000.00 cash bail, $1,500,000.00 secured bond, or $3,000,000.00 partially secured bond.  Stansberry is next scheduled to appear in court on November 16, 2022.

It is alleged that on October 30, 2022, at approximately 5:00 PM, Stansberry arrived at the residence of his 53-year-old victim and repeatedly stabbed the man, who had been as repairing a fence in the backyard of the residence.  The charge of Tampering with Physical Evidence pertains to allegations that following the stabbing, Stansberry concealed a mask, rubber gloves, hooded jacket and a shoe that he had been wearing by stuffing them into a storm drain.  

An investigation conducted by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office resulted in Stansberry’s arrest on November 1, 2022.  The case was presented to an Orange County Grand Jury which charged Stansberry with the crimes including Murder in the Second Degree.  

District Attorney Hoovler thanked all of the law enforcement agencies involved for the arrest of Stansberry and their continuing investigation. 

“My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the victim in this case, who was senselessly killed while working in his own backyard on a Sunday afternoon,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “There is no place where people should feel safer than in their own homes. I commend the Town of Wallkill Police Department, and all of the agencies that aided them, for their ceaseless efforts in this case.”  

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Bryan Conway.

This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.