HAMBURG, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Town of Hamburg Police Department announced the arrest of a 33-year-old man for the murder of his mother.
Officers responded to a welfare check at 5044 McKinley Parkway around 8 a.m. December 14 and found 71-year-old Lareta Jenney dead inside the residence. Police said after a thorough investigation and processing of the residence, based on the evidence and information gathered, 33-year-old James Jenney McCullough was arrested for the murder of his mother. He allegedly stabbed her in the neck.
I spoke with Town of Hamburg Police Captain Todd Ehret about the incident.
"It's a tragedy for the community," Captain Ehret said. "This is a mother that loved her son, did everything to take care of him, by all accounts."
Captain Ehret described how officers encountered Jenney McCullough during their investigation.
"He was at first belligerent to them — did not want them to come inside the house," Ehret said. "We have an officer that has previous experience with him, had gone to high school with him, was able to build a rapport with him to the point where Mr. Jenney McCullough allowed them to come inside the house to investigate the welfare check."
"Through the patrol response, through the detective response in the investigation, evidence was obtained that we feel shows that Mr. Jenney killed his mother," Captain Ehret said.
Neighbors say there's been a long history of domestic violence at the home. Jennifer Chadwick, a neighbor, lives just doors away.
"Rita was obviously in a situation I almost analogize as a spousal abuse situation," Chadwick said. "There was an incident where she actually had to escape from her house and her son and ended up in my house. That was probably like eight years ago."
The police captain told me the home has a history of domestic violence dating back to 2016.
"Jenney McCullough has been arrested on two previous occasions at the house," Captain Ehret said. "There was no order of protection in place at this time. There had been previously, but we have been to the house several times."
Captain Ehret said this case highlights the dangers of domestic violence, especially during the holiday season when emotions and stress run high. He's urging anyone in a domestic violence situation to call police for help and resources.
A list of local resources can be found here:
- Family Justice Center — (716) 558-7233
- Erie Co. Child and Family Services — (716) 884-6000
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — (800) 799-7233
Jenney McCullough was arraigned Monday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
Cameras were allowed in the courtroom, but we were only allowed to record video without audio. Jenney McCullough blurted out statements, used profanity and scolded the judge for mispronouncing his family's name.
"I'll take an f—ing gunshot to the head," he said.
The prosecutor requested that the defendant be held on bail and asked that a psychiatric examination be conducted. The judge agreed, saying an evaluation would be ordered by Monday night.
McCullough is being held without bail and faces 25 years to life if convicted. A felony hearing is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. in Hamburg Town Court.
WATCH: 'It's a tragedy for the community': Hamburg man arrested for the murder of his mother
