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Hunter who killed woman walking her dogs indicted

Hunter who killed woman walking dogs indicted
Posted at 4:06 PM, Nov 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-30 22:59:46-05

A Chautauqua County grand jury has indicted a hunter who shot and killed a woman walking her dogs the day before Thanksgiving. 

Thomas Jadlowski, 34, turned himself in to the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office to face charges of second-degree manslaughter and hunting after hours. 

Investigators say Jadlowski shot Rosemary Billquist, 43, of the Town of Sherman on November 22nd just after sundown as she was walking her dogs in a field behind her home.

Billquist was shot in the hip. After firing the shot, prosecutors say Jadlowski - who opened fire on what he thought was a deer - heard screaming. He ran toward the screams and found Billquist, then called 911.

Firefighters arrived within minutes to find Billquist unresponsive about 150 yards behind her home. She was taken to a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she was pronounced dead. 

Investigators say the shooting happened just after 5:20 p.m., well after sunset - which marks the legal end of hunting for the day.

A judge set bail for Jadlowski at $50,000. He is due back in court on January 29th.

He faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted. 

Billquist left behind her husband of 27 years, Jamie. 

"She loved life. There wasn't a bad bone in her body," he told 7 Eyewitness News this week. "I would have never imagined this would happen to such a great person. She would give her shirt off her back. She would volunteer for Hospice and at local nursing homes."