Staff Report / May 6, 2026
A Geneva man has been formally indicted in connection with the death of a Farmington resident whose body was discovered inside a local motel room last month, marking a significant development in the ongoing homicide case.
According to reports, a grand jury indictment has been handed down against 29-year-old Julius Ware IV, who had previously been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 37-year-old Emmanuel Richelieu.
The case began as a missing persons investigation on April 17, when Richelieu’s family reported they had not heard from him for two days. Authorities later used cellphone tracking to locate his phone at the America’s Best Value Inn in Geneva, prompting a large-scale search of the property.
During that search, deputies, assisted by K-9 units, drones, and multiple agencies, located Richelieu deceased inside a motel room registered to Ware. Officials said the victim suffered multiple traumatic injuries, and an autopsy later determined the death to be a homicide caused by sharp force injuries.
Investigators allege Ware intentionally caused Richelieu’s death. Authorities have also reported that Ware had been released from state prison on April 9 after serving a sentence for robbery and was placed at the motel as part of a parole housing arrangement.
Ware was taken into custody shortly after the discovery of the body and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He remains held without bail at the Ontario County Jail as the case proceeds through the court system.
The investigation remains active, and officials continue to ask anyone with information related to the case to contact law enforcement.
