A $12,500 reward has been offered via Crime Stoppers WNY
By Andrew Harris
On July 4th weekend in 2017 the family of Raymond Cornelius was shocked and unsure why anyone would kill an elderly man in his home in cold blood. After nine years the crime is still a painful family story, with no reason or motive or suspect.
Someone shot Cornelius from outside his remote home on Wadsworth Hill Road in Ward NY, a remote town, in remote Allegany County in Western New York about ninety miles from any major city.
Raymond was shot in the back and found deceased on July 3rd by the New York State Police.
Allegany County Sheriff Scott Cicirello issued this notice that the killing remained unsolved and asked for anyone with information to come forward:
UNSOLVED CASE —> The New York State Police continue to investigate the Homicide of an 82-year-old Town of Ward resident who was found shot to death in his home. Raymond C. Cornelius, 82, of the Town of Ward, was found deceased from a gunshot wound on the morning of July 3rd, 2017, after family members had not heard from him in a couple days. A family member advised that he had gone to check on Ray as no one in the family had been able to reach him via telephone since approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday, July 1, 2017. Troopers arrived on scene and noted a broken window confirming Cornelius had been shot in the back from outside of the residence.
A reward of up to $12,500 is being offered for anonymous information leading to the arrest/indictment of the person(s) responsible for the homicide of RAY CORNELIUS who was killed during the July 4th weekend in 2017 on Wadsworth Hill Road in the Town of Ward, Allegany County.
HOW TO SUBMIT A TIP:
716-867-6161
http://crimestopperswny.org/submit-a-tip/
“Buffalo Tips” app
Troopers are urging the public to contact them with any information they may have regarding the Wadsworth Hill area during this time in 2017, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Cornelius had no known enemy’s and the murder has haunted the family for the last nine years.
If you have any information regarding the investigation, please contact the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Troop A Headquarters at (585)344-6200.
