Village of Bath Police Department / March 18, 2026
The Village of Bath Police Department reports the arrest of Zachariah E. Cole, age 34, and Heather L. Baker, age 37, following a lengthy investigation into the suspicious death of a 61 year old male victim in the Village of Bath.
On 02/06/2026 at approximately 5:54 PM, units were dispatched to a residence on West Washington Street for a report of an unresponsive male victim. Upon arrival, law enforcement and EMS services determined that the victim was deceased and a death investigation ensued.
Throughout the investigation, Heather Baker and Zachariah Cole were found to have delayed calling emergency services to render aid to the victim and instead, tampered with physical evidence by cleaning the scene and removing evidence for a lengthy period of time prior to calling for help. Baker and Cole then impeded the investigation by filing false statements with law enforcement in an attempt to conceal that a crime had been committed. Additionally, Baker and Cole were found to have provided the victim methamphetamine, which was ultimately determined to have been contributory to the victim’s death.
On 03/16/2026, both Baker and Cole were arrested and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, a Class D Felony, Tampering With Physical Evidence, a Class E Felony, and Falsifying Business Records in the 1st Degree, a Class E Felony.
Baker and Cole were arraigned in Steuben County CAP Court within the Steuben County Jail where they both remain held without the opportunity for bail.
