Staff Report / April 20, 2026
Authorities in Ontario County are investigating a suspicious death after a missing man was found inside a Geneva motel room over the weekend.
According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, 37-year-old Emmanuel Richelieu of Farmington had been reported missing around 11 p.m. on Friday, April 17, after family members said they had not heard from him for two days.
Investigators used a phone tracking application, which indicated Richelieu’s phone was located at the America’s Best Value Inn in Geneva. Deputies responded to the property early Saturday and located the phone, prompting a broader search of the area.
The search effort included deputies, drones, and a sheriff’s office K-9 unit. A bloodhound ultimately alerted authorities to a specific motel room, where deputies entered and discovered a deceased man. After securing a search warrant and re-entering the room, the victim was confirmed to be Richelieu.
Officials reported that Richelieu’s body showed “significant trauma,” leading investigators to classify the case as a suspicious death. His body was transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.
The motel room where Richelieu was found had been registered to 29-year-old Julius Ware IV, who authorities have identified as a person of interest. As of the initial report, investigators said they were attempting to locate Ware and were asking for the public’s assistance.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office as the investigation continues.
